GREAT FALLS — Austin Ryan Hakes is facing charges of criminal child endangerment after he reportedly lost control of his car while intoxicated with three children in the vehicle.
Court documents state that on Friday, December 13, Hakes lost control of his car on an icy road; the car skidded off the road and down an embankment, and got stuck in ice, mud, and snow. A passer-by called 911 to report the incident and went to check on the occupants of the car; the caller told law enforcement he was concerned because Hakes - the driver - appeared to be drunk, and there were three small children in the car.
When officers arrived, they noted that Hakes had watery, bloodshot eyes, his speech was slurred and slow, and his movements were "clumsy and deliberate." Hakes reportedly admitted that he had been drinking prior to driving. A prelimary breath test yielded a blood-alcohol content of .184, which is more than twice the legal limit to drive. Results of a blood analysis are pending.
Court documents note that at the time of the incident, Hakes driving license was suspended due to a DUI conviction.
Hakes has been charged with three felony counts of criminal child endangerment, and driving with a suspended license.
NOTE: The information above is from criminal court documents filed in the case, and do not necessarily provide all of the information relevant to the case. Defendants are considered legally innocent until proven guilty in court.
