No felony charges planned for July 4 crash

The Daily Inter Lake and The Associated Press

Felony charges will not be filed for a July 4 fatal boat accident on Flathead Lake, Flathead County Attorney Ed Corrigan said Friday.

Whitefish resident Travis Wickum, 26, died after his 17-foot boat was struck by a 19-foot boat after dark on the Fourth of July.

The larger boat was overloaded, carrying 10 people, while the U.S. Coast Guard-recommended capacity for the boat is eight, Montana Fish, Wildife and Parks wardens said.

The boat was traveling between 25 and 30 mph at the time of the collision.

Recently returned toxicology reports indicate alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Wickum had no alcohol in his system and the driver of the larger boat had a blood alcohol content of .02.

"Given that his blood alcohol content was .02, well below the legal limit of .08, no felony charges will be filed," Corrigan said, adding that it will be up to wardens to decide whether lesser citations will be written.

The Fish, Wildlife and Parks investigation found that the red and green bow lights on Wickum's boat were not functioning at the time of the crash.

"One of the mitigating things to be considered is that Mr. Wickum's boat was not fitted with proper running lights," Corrigan said.

The collision occurred about three miles east of Lakeside.

Wickum died at the scene from "massive trauma." His wife, Jessica, was injured in the crash, but his two daughters, ages 5 and 3, were not hurt.