Court News

UM student accused of driving drunk, hitting bicyclist

Posted: Feb 1, 2012 6:37 AM by Irina Cates- KPAX News

MISSOULA - A University of Montana student is accused of driving drunk and hitting a bicyclist late Monday night on East Broadway.

Christopher Patterson, 21, of Missoula is being charged with negligent vehicular assault and failure to remain at an accident scene.

The crash happened just before 1:00 a.m. Tuesday near the Albertson's store on East Broadway.

Missoula Police say the 23-year-old victim and Patterson were both heading west, when Patterson side-swiped the victim and kept driving. Police say the victim was riding his bike where he was supposed to, when he was hit.

The man went to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Prosecutors say Patterson's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit and he was driving without his passenger side tire after he hit the biker. Prosecutors say Patterson didn't realize he was driving on just a rim until he was pulled over by an officer, who recognized the car may have been the one involved in the hit-and-run.

Patterson initially denied hitting the bicyclist, but then started saying the victim didn't have proper lighting equipment. He later admitted to detectives that he hit the bicyclist and saw him lying on the side of the road in his rear view mirror, as he continued to drive away.

Patterson is in jail on a $50,000 bail.