Man Flees DUI Crash Scene, One Victim Has Life-Threatening Injuries

At 11:23 pm on Tuesday, Missoula County 911 received a report of a wrong-way driver going westbound in the eastbound lane of I-90. Two minutes later a second call came in to 911 reporting a two vehicle crash with one vehicle rolled in the median.

A dark BMW sedan was found facing West in the eastbound shoulder of I-90 near mile marker 126. The BMW had been traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes, and struck a Hyundai SUV. The Hyundai went into the median and rolled multiple times. The Hyundai had four occupants and all of them were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. One of the occupants was transported by Life Flight with serious, life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the BMW continued to drive West in the eastbound lanes before stopping and fleeing the scene on foot. 59-year-old Livorio Loera called 911 at 1:37 am on Wednesday and reported that he was in a car accident. He said he walked away towards the Rock Creek Exit, but had passed out and just came to. Loera told 911 he had slid down something steep and could not get up.

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper located Loera lying in the grass down the embankment near Rock Creek Road. Loera appeared to have blood and vomit around his mouth. His speech was slow and slurred, and he had the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him. He was transported to the hospital for medical treatment by ambulance.

Loera appeared in Missoula Justice Court Thursday afternoon and Deputy County Attorney Brandon Zeak provided the following statement.

“At least one of the victims in this case was life flighted to Seattle,” Zeak said. “Their condition at this time is still unknown, but it has been communicated to the state that they are not going to make it throughout the next couple of days. Due to these facts, the state is asking that the defendant be held on bail no less than an amount of $100,000 at this time.”

Judge Landee Holloway set bail in the amount of $50,000. If Loera posts bond, he will be released to pretrial supervision.

Loera was charged with four counts of felony criminal endangerment and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Loera has two prior convictions for DUI out of the State of California from July 19, 2011 and July 1, 2013.