East Helena man charged with vehicular homicide DUI after crash; motorcyclist victim ID'd

An East Helena man was charged Friday with one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence after allegedly striking a motorcyclist with his vehicle at the intersection of 4th Street and W. Riggs Street. The motorcyclist died of their injuries.

Paul Michael Bushnell, 46, was charged in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court. The vehicular homicide while under the influence count carries a penalty of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000 if he is convicted. As of Friday afternoon, he was listed on the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center's inmate roster.

According to court documents, Bushnell left the Town Pump in East Helena on Thursday evening just after 7 p.m. and was headed southbound on nearby 4th Street when he tried to turn left onto W. Riggs Street and failed to yield to the motorcyclist, who was northbound on 4th Street. They hit one another head-on, according to a coroner's report.

The motorcyclist, identified in court documents by their initials as “J.B.,” was thrown from the bike and suffered fatal injuries, according to a report written by the Montana Highway Patrol trooper who responded. A coroner's report said medical and fire personnel attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. The coroner's office was notified of his death at 7:25 p.m. Thursday.

County Coroner Leo Dutton identified the victim as Jacob Chester Bright, 27, of East Helena. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The trooper wrote that Bushnell had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and watery eyes. The documents state that Bushnell at first admitted to drinking three IPAs at the Town Pump in the hours prior. He would later admit to also having a Cold Smoke beer, according to the document.

The trooper wrote that Bushnell displayed signs of impairment during a horizontal gaze test, a walk-and-turn test and the one-leg stand test.

Bushnell refused a breath test and to give a blood sample, according to court records, but the trooper obtained a warrant to take a blood sample.

Bushnell is listed as the Facilities Bureau Chief for the Montana Department of Transportation on its website. A spokesperson for the department said Friday the department was still gathering information, adding: “Our hearts go out to the families and everyone involved.”

In a statement, Dutton said the coroner's office offers its "sincere condolences to the Bright family."

Editor's note: This story was updated to include information about the victim and more information about the crash.