Browning woman sentenced in DUI crash that injured passenger

GREAT FALLS—A Browning woman who admitted being intoxicated when the vehicle she was driving on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation crashed and rolled twice, seriously injuring a passenger, was sentenced today to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U. S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Mary Marie Oldchief, 35, pleaded guilty in October to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Oldchief was detained.

In court documents filed in the case, the prosecution said the single-vehicle crash occurred on June 12, 2018 on U.S. Highway 2 near Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation. Oldchief was driving when the vehicle crashed and rolled twice. The victim, a passenger, was ejected and pinned under the car. The victim suffered serious injuries, including a brain injury and spinal and rib fractures. Oldchief was intoxicated at the time and had a breath sample of .133 percent at the Blackfeet Detention Center after the crash.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, the Montana Highway Patrol and the FBI.