Alcohol, drugs suspected in double fatality

Father could be charged in 5-year-old's death

By Ethan Smith

Leader Staff

Possible drug and alcohol use are suspected in a fatal crash that killed two people just north of St. Ignatius last Thursday, including the driver's 5-year-old son.

Aethan Olson-McArdle was pronounced dead at the scene of the March 15 accident, which took place shortly before 4:30 p.m., while a woman from North Carolina who was a passenger in the other vehicle died in Missoula the next day, at St. Patrick Hospital.

Montana Highway Patrolman Jim Sanderson said Darren McArdle was driving a Ford pickup southbound on Highway 93 when he attempted to pass another vehicle, but hit a Chrysler PT Cruiser head-on. The driver of the Chrysler, Michael Dubois, survived, but Michelle Dubois was pronounced dead the next day, after being Life Flighted to Missoula.

According to Sanderson, Aethan Olson-McArdle was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, but was partially ejected from the pickup. He was a couple months shy of his sixth birthday, and state law mandates that children under six or weighing less than 60 pounds be put in a proper child restraint seat, Sanderson said.

A blood sample was taken from Darren McArdle and sent to the state crime lab in Missoula, and Sanderson said evidence at the scene indicates that McArdle was possibly under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

“There is evidence of alcohol consumption on the part of Mr. McArdle, and also evidence of possible drug use,” Sanderson said.

The Montana Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff's office, Tribal Law and Order, and Mission fire and ambulance crews all responded to the scene. The investigation is being conducted by MHP.