Jimmy Joe Flanagan was charged less than 24 hours after prosecutors say he slammed a pickup truck into a motorcycle on Fourth Avenue North while attempting to elude a Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputy.
Flanagan, 42 years old, has yet to be arraigned in Yellowstone County District Court. He faces charges of vehicular homicide while under the influence and five counts of criminal endangerment, all felonies. He remained Tuesday in the Yellowstone County jail.
According to charging documents, the incident began at about 8:30 p.m. Monday when a deputy spotted a Ford F-150 on Interstate 94 towing a flatbed trailer carrying a stolen excavator headed west toward Billings. The deputy saw the trailer license plate matched those belonging to the trailer that law enforcement had been looking for, court records state.
The deputy also noticed a tow chain on the trailer was dragging and sparking, and the driver failed to keep the vehicle within the lane while driving 58 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone.
Near mile marker 453 on Interstate 90 the deputy activated his patrol vehicle lights and attempted a traffic stop, court records state. The driver failed to stop and "immediately accelerated" to 72 mph then drove off the highway at exit 452 and made his way toward Billings over the Dick Johnston Bridge.
While fleeing, the trailer "swayed significantly," court records state, and the truck reached speeds of about 55 mph on Highway 87 East by the MetraPark grounds.
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"The Defendant blew through a red stoplight at the intersection of HWY 87E and 1st Ave. N. and turned west on 1st Ave. N.," court records state. "While doing so, the excavator shifted, tipping the trailer and dumping the heavy machinery into the road in the presence of other motorists. The Defendant picked up speed on 1st Ave. N., reaching 65 mph as cars spilled to the sides of the roadway."
The driver continued to flee, going the wrong way on several roads in the area before heading up North 20th Street at an estimated speed of 54 mph when he failed to stop at the stop sign at Fourth Avenue North and collided with the motorcycle. The motorcyclist, a 28-year-old man whose name has not yet been released, died at the scene.
Flanagan is accused of trying to flee the crash scene on foot but he was arrested. He was taken to Billings Clinic where he refused to provide a blood sample and "appeared dazed" and the deputy "detected the faint odor of alcohol," court records state. Later during an interview Flanagan "repeatedly appeared to fall asleep, stopped and started speaking, and repeated himself numerous times."
We will update you if we get more information.
(1st REPORT, SEPTEMBER 9, 2024) A motorcyclist died after being hit by a pickup truck that was fleeing a Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputy in Billings on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Billings police responded to the crash at around 8:45 p.m. at the corner of Fourth Avenue North and North 20th Street, according to Billings police Lt. Bret Becker.
The pickup truck was heading north on North 20th Street and had crossed Fourth Avenue North when it hit the motorcyclist, according to Becker.
The driver of the truck ran away after the crash but was caught a few blocks later and arrested, according to Billings police.
The identity of the driver has not been released at this point.
The motorcyclist died at the scene. The person's name has not yet been released.
Police have not yet said what triggered the chase of the pickup truck.
The Billings Police Department crash team is investigating.
We will update you if we get more information.
