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Belgrade man facing DUI and other charges after crashing into yellow submarine

Posted at 3:10 PM, May 11, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-11 17:10:01-04

Tanner D. Smith of Belgrade is facing criminal charges including his third DUI after he reportedly crashed a vehicle into a yellow submarine outside a business.

According to court documents, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper responded to a report of a crash at 8:31 p.m. on Thursday, May 10, near the intersection of Jackrabbit Lane and Forkhorn Trail.

Witnesses said that two men had run away heading east from the scene, running on Forkhorn Trail. The witnesses tried to get the pair to remain at the scene until help arrived.

The chief of the Big Sky Fire Department was nearby; he followed the two to the driveway of a residence on Arrowhead Trail and detained them until law enforcement arrived.

Witnesses told the MHP trooper that a vehicle appeared to be traveling southbound on Jackrabbit at a high rate of speed before attempting to make a left turn onto Forkhorn Trail.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, which then slid broadside into a ditch, causing it to crash onto the yellow submarine at Four Corners Auto. The submarine reportedly sustained damages, but we don’t yet know how extensive.

Smith reportedly appeared confused and answered “I don’t know” or silence to every question the trooper asked. Court documents say Smith had a “thousand-yard” stare and appeared dazed. He also had an “overwhelming” odor of alcoholic beverages coming from him.

Smith refused a breathalyzer test and was unable to perform field sobriety tests.

He has two DUI convictions, one in  2017, and another in 2015. Smith also had four no insurance convictions within the last five years.

Smith is being held on $10,000 bond. 

Smith, 25 years old, was charged with DUI (3rd offense), habitual offender of operating a motor vehicle, driving while license is suspended or revoked, no seatbelt, no insurance (3rd or subsequent), failure to notify of an accident, and leaving the scene of an accident without permission in Gallatin County Justice Court on Friday morning.

  • Reported by Ken Spencer and Carson Vickroy – MTN News