East Glacier man faces charges in Glacier Park accident, death

An East Glacier area man accused of causing the death of one person and injuring another while driving in Glacier National Park in June pleaded not guilty in federal court earlier this month.

Leo James Hagan, 19, of East Glacier Park Village, entered his plea in U.S. District Court, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. Hagan is charged with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Glacier National Park authorities identified the victim as 40-year-old Paul Cadotte of Starr School, Montana. Starr School is a small community located northwest of Browning.

The rollover crash on Two Medicine Road was reported to Glacier County in a 911 call placed around midnight on June 11. At the time, authorities said that alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash and Hagan was charged with DUI.

Cadotte was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Another passenger required hospitalization.

Not all individuals were wearing seatbelts, authorities said.

If convicted, Hagan faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the manslaughter count, and a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault count.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Hagan was released pending further proceedings. A trial was set for Nov. 4.

The indictment alleges that Hagan was driving recklessly on June 11, 2019, near Lower Two Medicine Lake in Glacier National Park, when his actions caused the death of one person and seriously injured a second person.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the National Park Service, Montana Highway Patrol, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and the Glacier County Sheriff’s Office.