Montana Man Denies Charge for Walmart Crash

January 24, 2012

A 32-year-old man is denying charges filed against him after he reportedly passed out while driving and crashed his car into a Walmart in Billings, Mont., putting a hole in an outside wall.

The Billings Gazette reports Steven James Barnhart pleaded not guilty Thursday to felony criminal endangerment, misdemeanor driving under the influence and driving without a license or insurance.

District Judge Susan Watters reduced Barnhart’s bond from $75,000 to $35,000.

Prosecutors allege Barnhart was drinking vodka while driving with three teenage passengers on Jan. 10. Court records say he passed out while driving through the parking lot and the car accelerated to 50 or 60 mph before smashing through a fence and into the side of the store.