Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – On April 14, 2023, at approximately 7:36 p.m., officers with the Missoula Police Department were dispatched to a report of a driver who struck several cars throughout the city.
When officers responded to the respective crashes, they were further advised that the driver of the suspect vehicle had crashed on Highway 93 in the area of Blue Mountain Road. The driver was identified as 21-year-old Demar Pugh. Multiple MPD officers and Montana Highway Patrol troopers responded.
The first caller provides a statement
An officer contacted one of several 911 callers who said she was traveling west on 39th Street, approaching Russell Street, when she noticed Pugh speeding behind her . The caller estimated Pugh was traveling approximately 60 mph and said Pugh nearly hit the rear of his vehicle.
The caller said Pugh sped off and used the center lane to pass approximately 15 vehicles and travel through intersections. The caller said he believed Pugh may have killed five people in front of him. At one point, Pugh braked so hard that he left a skid mark on the road for approximately 20-30 feet.
The second caller provides a statement
Another officer spoke with another 911 caller who said he felt Pugh was intentionally coming after him. The caller said he was walking at the intersection of South Avenue and Cinnabar and heard screeching tires heading in his direction. The caller reported that Pugh was traveling at a high rate of speed, made a sharp turn and pointed his vehicle in their direction.
The caller said she was close enough to Pugh to lock eyes with him. The caller reported that Pugh appeared angry and did not appear to panic that he might hit a pedestrian. Pugh then drove over the curb and onto the grass where the caller was walking. The caller reported there were visible tread marks showing the path of travel and said he had to run eastbound to avoid being hit. The caller said Pugh’s vehicle came within 2-3 feet of hitting him before losing speed and returning to the road.
The third caller provides a statement
Another officer spoke with another person who said she had been hit in her vehicle by Pugh’s vehicle. The caller said he was driving north on Arthur Avenue when Pugh veered off the center line and into oncoming traffic.
The caller said she pulled over to avoid being hit head-on by Pugh. The caller said that after Pugh passed her, she waited a few minutes before she felt safe driving again. When he started driving, he found Pugh again near the intersection of Higgins and South. The caller again tried to pull over to avoid Pugh, but he rear-ended his vehicle.
The fourth caller provides a statement
An officer spoke with a caller who reported being hit by Pugh while being pulled over at the intersection of Brooks and Higgins. The caller said he heard screeching tires before Pugh’s vehicle approached him.
Officers locate Pugh
An officer responded to the area where Pugh was reported to have crashed. The officer observed Pugh’s blue Dodge Durango off the side of the road and could tell the vehicle was attempting to enter the driveway again. The officer also saw three people run from where the vehicle was in an effort to avoid being hit.
The officer made contact with Pugh and ordered him to exit the vehicle. Pugh struggled to walk without stumbling, his face was numb and his eyes were watery and bloodshot. The officer also observed several beer cans in Pugh’s vehicle. The officer requested that Pugh be evaluated by a physician and it was determined that Pugh should be transported for further evaluation.
The officer responded to Hospital St. Patrick to talk to Pugh. According to the officer, Pugh did not know he was in Missoula and believed he was in Billings. The officer said Pugh continued to make jokes while being evaluated and didn’t seem to care or appreciate the seriousness of the situation he was in. The officer read Pugh his Miranda rights, which he confirmed he understood. Pugh admitted to drinking alcohol, but could not remember how much.
Pugh is currently charged with four counts of criminal endangerment, DUI first offense and failure to warn for the speediest manner of an accident. On April 18, 2023, Pugh made his initial appearance in Missoula Justice Court and his bond was set at $250,000.
The information in this article has been obtained from publicly visible sources.
WATCH: Here are the states where you’re most likely to hit an animal
Hitting an animal while driving is a terrifying experience, and this list ranks the 50 states in order of how likely these incidents are to occur, as well as providing tips on how to avoid them.
QUIZ: Can you identify 50 famous companies by their logos?
How well do you know the logos of 50 of the most famous companies in the world? Keep scrolling to see if you can guess which icon belongs to which brand.
