Montana

Teen charged after allegedly hitting another teen with SUV

Posted: Dec 10, 2012 10:45 PM by Melissa Anderson (Helena)

Tasia Pogatchnik of East Helena is in jail on a $10,000 bond after she allegedly ran over another teen with her mother's vehicle early Saturday morning.

The incident was reported at around 3 a.m. when dispatch received a 911 call asking for an ambulance in front of Carroll College because a female had reportedly just ran over a male.

The 17-year old victim was transported to St. Peter's Hospital.

Pogatchnik, 18, was arrested and charged with felony criminal endangerment, and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Reports say she went to pick up a friend at a house on the 500 block of Waukesha.

Initial reports indicate that several people were surrounding her vehicle for some reason and that one person was hanging on the front of the vehicle by the grill guard, and that before she had time to react he was "sucked" under the vehicle very quickly.

She reportedly told authorities that she was going approximately 5 miles per hour at the time.

The vehicle was found the next day at the families' residence in East Helena; it reportedly had damage consistent with the boy's injuries.

She faces fines of up $50,000 and up to 10 years in prison on the felony charge.

The boy was released from St. Peter's Hospital on Sunday afternoon after being treated for his injuries.