Months after a deadly drunk driving incident inspired the creation of a new state criminal offense, a tragically fatal East Helena accident looks set to put Montana’s newest bit of traffic justice to the test.
On the night of Saturday, Nov. 22, William Bart Stuart reportedly climbed into his Audi A7 with a friend after drinks at the Lakeside bar on Lake Hauser. Minutes later, he was pulled over by Montana Highway Patrol troopers on Lake Helena Drive, on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The passenger exited the vehicle before Stuart sped off, according to the MHP, heading southbound on Lake Helena Drive toward East Helena. The MHP gave chase toward Old Highway 12, aka Main Street, where Stuart, driving at high speed, failed to negotiate the intersection, smashed through a chain-link fence and crashed into a home, killing a 69-year-old woman and putting a 76-year-old man in the hospital with serious injuries.
