Hollo faces homicide charge in wreck where alcohol was involved

Flathead County prosecutors have brought a vehicular homicide charge against a Columbia Falls man involved in a June crash that killed a Nebraska man.

Matthew Michael Hollo, 23, faces one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence, a felony.

On the afternoon of June 6, two vehicles collided head-on just north of Columbia Falls on the North Fork Road viaduct.

One of the vehicles, a Toyota sport utility vehicle, was driven by 68-year-old Timothy Fangman. He was a doctor from Omaha who was reportedly headed north to a cabin near Polebridge.

Fangman, a noted cardiologist, died at the scene.

According to court documents, authorities spoke with Hollo, who was driving a Dodge pickup and received minor injuries. He allegedly said at first that Fangman had drifted into his lane, which caused him to swerve. Investigators noted that this story didn't match the evidence at the scene, according to the court documents.

A blood draw was taken from Hollo and sent to the Montana State Crime Lab. It showed that Hollo's blood-alcohol content on the day of the crash was 0.143, nearly twice the legal limit. Court documents say that Hollo also was speeding.

Hollo could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. He was booked in the Flathead County Detention Center on Aug. 8 and remains there on a $100,000 bond.

Hollo is set to be arraigned in Flathead County District Court on Aug. 27.