Bozeman, MT – A Bozeman man is facing multiple charges, including vehicular homicide while under the influence, following a fatal crash early Saturday morning on December 7, 2024. The incident, which took place near the intersection of Baxter Lane and Monforton School Road, resulted in the death of Menser’s 43-year-old passenger.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), the crash occurred around 8:11 a.m. when Christopher Ray Daniel Menser, 35, was driving westbound on Baxter Lane. Menser reportedly lost control of his vehicle and swerved off the road at a speed of 60 to 65 miles per hour. The car struck a fence and other objects before a horizontal fence post went through the windshield, fatally injuring his passenger.
The passenger, a man from Bozeman, was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Menser was also transported to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
Charging documents reveal that Menser and the victim lived together in a camper off Wheat Drive, and Menser told officers that the victim had used heroin or methamphetamine earlier that morning. When interviewed by the responding MHP trooper, Menser claimed that he swerved to avoid a deer that had entered the roadway. However, law enforcement noted several signs of possible impairment.
The trooper observed Menser exhibiting “jerky” movements and having pinpoint pupils, along with a lack of eye contact during the interaction. Menser also appeared disoriented, often falling asleep mid-conversation after being transported to the hospital. At one point, Menser allegedly told the trooper, “I’m definitely coming down off something.”
Further investigation revealed that Menser had consumed mushrooms the night before and smoked marijuana early on the morning of the crash. He reportedly admitted to smoking marijuana with a group of people around 5 a.m. at the Motel 6 on Wheat Drive. Menser also claimed that the person who provided the marijuana liked to lace it with methamphetamine.
Menser, who has been employed for only a few weeks, reportedly told officers he was on his way to work when the crash occurred. Despite the lack of ties to the local community, Menser was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence, along with other potential charges related to impaired driving.
Menser appeared in Gallatin County Justice Court on Monday, December 9, where his bail was set at $100,000. His next court date is scheduled for December 27, 2024.
The crash has left the Bozeman community reeling, highlighting the tragic consequences of impaired driving. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and further charges could be forthcoming as the case develops.
