A blood-stained windshield could be enough to convict a man of vehicular homicide while under the influence. The crash happened nearly 18 months ago on Halfmoon Road north of the railroad tracks. In the crash, an unidentified 53-year old man died while the other sustained only minor injuries. The “other” man is 36-year old Tyrel Lee Eaton.
Here’s where some interesting forensic investigation came in. The man who survived, Eaton, claimed that the man who died was driving. Troopers found both men outside the crashed vehicle. Eaton, who survived, appeared to have been intoxicated. There were, apparently, no witnesses to the actual crash but a person who came upon the crash told troopers he saw both men outside the vehicle.
The forensic work showed heavy blood stains on the driver’s side windshield…blood that matched Eaton’s. That lead investigators to believe that Eaton was the actual driver and it was enough to charge him with the felony. Eaton has been in the Flathead County Detention Center ever since on $250,000 bail.
He’ll appear before District Judge Paul Sullivan next Thursday for his arraignment.
Under “Bobby’s Law,” just enacted by the Legislature, Eaton could spend up to 30 years in prison and be fined $50,000.
