Patrick Eugene Sayers, 29, appeared in Missoula County Justice Court Friday on charges of vehicular homicide while under the influence, a felony. In addition, Sayers was charged with three misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children, because his three infant children were riding in rear-facing car seats in the back seat at the time he was allegedly smoking pot.
According to court records, Sayers was driving north on U.S. Highway 93 in his 1991 Chevy 1-ton, extended-cab pickup truck when he drove through the intersection at Miller Creek Road and struck the passenger side of a two-door Acura Integra that was turning from the highway onto Miller Creek Road, near Wal-Mart. The accident occurred just after 1 p.m. Thursday.
Nobody else was injured in the accident.
While police officers questioned Sayers, who admitted he was driving with a suspended license, a tow truck driver found a multi-colored glass pipe on the ground next to the truck's rear passenger side.
Detectives then spoke with Sayers' passenger, Terry Nunnery, who said he was riding in the truck with Sayers and the three children. He said they were coming in from Lolo. Nunnery said both men had been smoking marijuana from a colored glass pipe, court records state, and said the pipe was Sayers' while the marijuana was his own. He said they smoked about two bowls of marijuana out of the pipe while driving down Highway 93 with the kids in the back seat.
Nunnery told police he thought Sayers was driving too fast as they approached the intersection and told him to slow down. He estimated they were traveling at about 70 mph and slowed down to about 50 mph at the intersection. He said he saw the other car turning in front of them and screamed, but Sayers hit the car and they skidded to a stop.
Initially, Sayers denied smoking marijuana at the time of the accident, but said he had smoked pot earlier that morning at his home. After further questioning, Sayers admitted he had been smoking marijuana while driving down Highway 93 just prior to the accident.
In Missoula County Justice Court Friday, Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech set bail at $100,000, doubling Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Clark's recommendation.
“Mr. Sayers, I just saw you on December 14 for driving while suspended, so bail is more appropriate at $100,000.”
Sayers faces a possible penalty of more than 30 years in the Montana State Prison.
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