Butte man in district court for seventh DUI charge

A Butte man with a history of driving under the influence faces multiple charges in Lincoln County District Court after authorities say he crashed his vehicle while driving drunk on U.S. Highway 2 in November.

Authorities charged Timothy Gale Munyan with driving under the influence, fifth or subsequent charge, operation of a noncommercial vehicle with a blood alcohol content above .08, careless driving and a seatbelt violation following the Nov. 30 accident.

Trooper Bryce Ford of the Montana Highway Patrol responded to the accident about 5:45 p.m. According to court documents, the Jeep drifted off of the highway just prior to mile marker 44 and into a borrow pit, he wrote in an affidavit.

From there, the vehicle continued on about 60 yards before crossing Paul Bunyon Lane and going back into the borrow pit. After striking and breaking several smaller trees, the Jeep overturned and struck a large tree, Ford wrote in his affidavit.

The impact caused the windshield and frame to crumple in on the passenger side, and forced the steering wheel and column downward into the front of the driver’s seat, court documents said.

“It appears [Munyan] was not in the driver’s seat at the time of the impact,” Ford wrote in the affidavit.

Witnesses who allegedly saw Munyan go by them earlier in a marked no passing zone came upon the crash scene soon after.

They recounted seeing Munyan outside of the vehicle, Ford wrote. Munyan asked for a flashlight before returning to the vehicle, where he began removing beer bottles and tossing them into the woods, according to the affidavit.

When Ford arrived, he found Munyan with blood on his face and head, and suffering from cuts and contusions. Munyan allegedly told Ford he was fine.

Asked if he had drunk alcohol, Munyan said he had a few drinks at a nearby restaurant, Ford recounted. The trooper reported smelling alcohol on Munyan and noticed the man had bloodshot eyes, court documents said. He also appeared slightly confused and had trouble walking.

After walking Munyan to an ambulance, Ford surveyed the scene of the accident. He found a beer bottle by the driver’s side window and several more in the nearby bushes and trees, court documents said. He also detected a strong odor of alcohol in the vehicle, according to the affidavit.

Munyan was taken to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center where his blood was drawn prior to him leaving on a med flight for further treatment.

Munyan, who has prior driving under the influence convictions in 1993, 1994, 2010, 2013 and two in 1995, requested a show cause hearing at his arraignment in Lincoln County District Court on Jan. 6. His case was continued until Jan. 27.