BILLINGS – A Montana man is accused of driving drunk in the wrong lane of Highway 312 and nearly crashing into a Montana Highway Patrol trooper head on Saturday.
Angelo Garza, 26, was charged Monday in Yellowstone County Justice Court with two counts of felony criminal endangerment and one count of driving under the influence.
The state trooper was eastbound on Highway 312 in Yellowstone County after 2 a.m. Saturday when he saw an oncoming vehicle in his lane.
The vehicle did not slow down or attempt to move into the correct lane, so the trooper swerved off the side of the road to avoid being hit head on.
The trooper turned around and pursued the driver, who eventually pulled over.
The driver, identified as Garza, appeared to the trooper as though he were about to pass out.
Garza’s eyes were bloodshot and droopy and he smelled strongly of alcohol, according to court documents.
The trooper had to assist Garza in stepping out of the vehicle and pulling his driver’s license from his wallet.
Garza was unable to stand long enough or follow directions for a field sobriety test so he was placed in the back of the trooper’s patrol car.
According to court documents, Garza refused to provide a breath sample so the trooper obtained a search warrant for a blood draw.
The results of the sample were not detailed in court documents.
Garza is being held at the Yellowstone County jail.
