Lanesboro Man Sentenced For Deadly DUI Crash in Montana

KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — A 24-year-old Minnesota man has been sentenced in connection with a July 4th, 2019 crash that killed two women in western Montana.

Mason David Drake received a 40-year sentence with 20 years suspended on Thursday for his role in the deaths. Drake entered into a plea deal with prosecutors in July.

Prosecutors say Drake was intoxicated when his vehicle crossed Montana Highway 35 east of Kalispell and crashed head-on into a truck. The collision killed 59-year-old Alice Barten and her daughter, 31-year-old Katie Barten.

An investigation by a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol said Drake’s blood-alcohol level was .136%, which is above the legal limit of 0.08.