Page 29 - Flathead Beacon // 7.16.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS JULY 16, 2014 | 29 The Roundup
From Beacon wire and news services
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COLUMBIA FALLS MAN SENTENCED FOR 2013 HIT AND RUN
A Columbia Falls man was sentenced in Flathead County District Court on July 10 for a January 2013 DUI and hit- and-run crash that sent one person to the hospital.
Sean Francisco West was sentenced to two eight-year suspended sentences to the Montana State Prison and one five-year suspended sentence, to be served concurrently. The decision came 18 months after West ran a red light and crashed into another car at the inter- section of U.S. Highway 2 and Reserve Street on Jan. 19, 2013.
One of the passengers in the car that was hit, Derrick Hayward, was ejected from the vehicle and, according to court documents, flew 63 feet through the air before hitting the pavement. Hayward spent several days in the hospital and sustained numerous injuries, including a lacerated liver.
West fled the scene on foot and lat- er called police to tell them what hap- pened, according to court records. Po- licemetwithWestandtransportedhim to the hospital where he was treated for injuries and took a Breathalyzer test where he blew .143, nearly twice the le- gal limit.
West was charged with three felo- nies: negligent vehicular assault; crimi- nal endangerment; and failure to re- main at the scene of a crime. He was later found guilty on all three counts at trial.
At Thursday’s sentencing, West said the accident changed his life and he hasn’t had a drink in a year and a half.
“This accident opened my eyes,” he said. “I want to turn this page and start a new chapter in my life.”
Besides West’s suspended sentences, he also must pay more than $40,000 in restitution to one of the victims and an insurance company.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED FOR WHITEFISH RIVER CHANGES
Fish and wildlife managers are ex- tending the public comment period for a proposed change that would restrict mo- torized access along a section of White- fish River during the summer and early fall months.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Friday the comment peri- od is open until Aug. 8. The state’s Fish and Wildlife Commission is proposing restricting the urban section of White-
fish River to manually and electric pow- ered watercraft from the railroad trestle south of Whitefish Lake outlet to the bridge on JP Road from July 5 through Sept. 30. The commission will consider the original proposed amendments and the new alternative amendments at their Oct. 16 meeting.
An original proposal supported by the City of Whitefish recommended shutting down motorized access year- round, but the commission rejected that option and instead offered a sea- sonal closure that would allow motor- boats to use the river before and after the busy summer months, when kayaks and stand-up paddleboards frequent the river.
Residents may submit their com- ments concerning the proposed actions in writing to Montana of Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region One Office, 490 North Me- ridian Road, Kalispell, Montana, 59901; FAX (406) 444-4756; or via email at: [email protected].
Comment can also be submitted on- line at fwp.mt.gov under Public Notices.
BODY OF MISSING PABLO WOMAN FOUND NEAR BIGFORK
An investigation is underway after law enforcement officers located the body of a missing Pablo woman near Big- fork Tuesday.
Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office identified the body as Shannon Turner, 40, who was reported missing last week. The sheriff’s office is conducting an investigation into the cause of death.
Turner was reported missing last week. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced its search July 3. Turner was last seen at 8:30 a.m., June 30 at her resi- dence on Kennedy Drive in Pablo. Lake County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch re- ceived a call requesting a welfare check on Turner at her residence. Deputies were unsuccessful in locating her or her vehicle.
According to Karen Sargeant with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, offi- cers received a tip from a citizen as to her vehicle’s possible location yesterday. The maroon Chevy Uplander belonging to Turner was located in southern Flat- head County, between Creston and Big- fork. The LCSO contacted the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office for assistance in locating and confirming that this was the missing vehicle.
Flathead County deputies located the vehicle, confirmed that this was in- deed the missing vehicle and discovered that the van contained human remains, Sargeant said.
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