Local denies crashing his pickup through car wash building

A Havre man accused of drunkenly driving through the wall of a Havre car wash denied the allegations Monday in state District Court.

Darrell Gilbert Briese, born in 1954, is charged with two counts of felony criminal endangerment, driving under the influence, duty upon striking fixtures or other property upon highway and immediate notice of accidents.

Court charging documents say Havre police dispatch received a call April 2 from someone reporting that a pickup truck ran into the Blue Bear Car Wash in Havre and then drove away from the scene without notifying anyone.

Briese, who was driving a blue Chevrolet Silverado, with front end damage from the crash now, was later pulled over by a Montana Highway Patrol trooper who spotted the damaged front end, documents say.

Based on Briese’s movement and speech, documents say, the trooper suspected the man to be drunk.

“When he had Briese exit his vehicle he saw that he had to lean against his vehicle to maintain his balance,” documents say.

An officer also arrived on the scene and noticed the front of the vehicle had been center punched, the airbags had been deployed and a piece of drywall hung on the roof of the vehicle.

Briese told the officer he was driving westbound on U.S. Highway 2 when he fell asleep at the wheel and ran into the Blue Bear Car Wash.

“When he was asked why he did not stay at the car wash he said he was disoriented and later said he got scared and did not know what to do,” documents say. “Briese also admitted to having five or six beers.”

Briese was arrested for driving under the influence.

Documents say evidence shows that Briese was traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 2, crossed into oncoming traffic lanes, jumped the curb onto the sidewalk and drove completely through the exterior wall and into the building.

Another officer spoke with witnesses and learned two people were inside the building at the time of the collision, documents say. The witnesses said the collision was so loud they thought there was a gas explosion in the building.

Briese has retained criminal defense lawyer Jeremy Yellin.