Hamilton woman charged with felony DUI after 100 mph chase [Ravalli Republic, Hamilton, Mont.]

May 28—A Hamilton woman who allegedly led officers on a chase at speeds over 100 mph was charged with felony DUI and numerous misdemeanors Friday.

Kristy Lynn Hunt, 52, appeared in Ravalli County Justice Court on the felony charge and misdemeanor counts of driving while her license was suspended, failure to have liability insurance, fleeing from a peace officer, reckless driving and open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle.

According to the charging affidavit, a county sheriff's officer encountered Hunt on the Eastside Highway north of Corvallis at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

After she failed to dim her high-beam lights, the officer turned around, activated his emergency lights and attempted to make a traffic stop.

Hunt initially pulled over but as the officer began to exit his patrol vehicle, the affidavit said she sped away southbound. As the officer pursued her with his vehicle top lights activated, she repeatedly slowed down, pulled to the side of the road and then sped away again.

The affidavit stated Hunt eventually reached speeds over 100 mph in a 65 mph zone and slowed to between 45 and 50 mph at the Corvallis school district office. She then turned onto Corvallis' First Street, blew through a stop sign, and turned into the school parking lot where she eventually stopped the vehicle.

During the subsequent traffic stop, the officer found Hunt's Idaho driver's license was suspended and that she could not provide proof of insurance.

After Hunt was secured in the back seat of the patrol vehicle, the officer noted two Popov brand vodka containers in the front passenger area. A third bottle about 75% empty was found in Hunt's purse at the detention center.

Hunt was not able to successfully complete the field sobriety test at the detention center. A breath sample yielded a .179 breath alcohol content. In Montana, a driver is considered impaired with a blood-alcohol level of .08.

The affidavit said Hunt has four DUI convictions, two in California and two in Idaho. She is currently on adult probation supervision as a result of a 2020 Idaho felony conviction.

Ravalli County Justice Jennifer Ray set bail at $50,000.

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