Alleged drunk driver pleads not guilty to vehicular homicide

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

A Great Falls man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol in a traffic accident on Interstate 90 that resulted in the deaths of two Alberton men pleaded not guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of criminal endangerment in Missoula District Court Wednesday.

Lonnie Ray Hylton, 40, is accused of driving his truck, while intoxicated, the wrong way up the Wye Exit onto I-90 in Missoula and continuing the wrong way down the interstate until he collided with a Subaru station wagon near mile marker 99.

According to court documents several vehicles had to swerve to avoid Hylton’s truck before he collided with the station wagon.

Alberton residents and grandsons of Alberton Mayor Joe Hanson, Dan Hanson, 25, and Kent Fisher, 20, were killed in the accident. Hanson died at the scene of the accident but Fisher was transported to the intensive care unit at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center before dying from injuries he sustained in the accident on August 12.

Originally Hylton was only charged with one count of vehicular homicide, but after Fisher’s death he was charged with an additional count.

Each count of vehicular homicide carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and or a $50,000 fine and each count of criminal endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and or a $50,000 fine. If convicted of all four counts Hylton could face up to 80 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.

Hylton remains in jail on a $500,000 bail bond.

Hylton is scheduled for a hearing to discuss release on pretrial supervision on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 8:30 a.m. and an omnibus hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 8:30 a.m.

If Hylton is released he will not be allowed to drink alcohol or enter any establishment that serves or provides alcohol.