Teen charged in deadly hit and run

POLSON – A Ronan teen charged in the Thanksgiving Day hit and run accident that killed a 3-year-old child and rocked the community of Northwood Trailer Park in Pablo has pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident.

Chasen Kiaran Curley, 17, entered the plea in Lake County District Court on Dec. 7. He has been released on his own recognizance pending a jury trial scheduled for April 3, 2017.

The holiday tragedy prompted a candlelight vigil and multiple fundraising efforts to benefit the family of 3-year-old Phillip Shourds Jr., who was killed while riding his bicycle outside his family’s Northwood home.

According to court documents, the accident occurred as Curley was exiting the trailer park after delivering food to a friend.

Witnesses told law enforcement officers that they saw an SUV driven by Curley back over Shourds Jr. and then accelerate forward, documents state. The vehicle was later located and pulled over outside Ronan.

When questioned by law enforcement officers, Curley allegedly said that he felt a thud while backing up and thought he had struck a bicycle. After hearing a man scream that he had just ran over a child, Curley allegedly said that he got scared and fled the scene, according to documents.

A passenger in the vehicle also told officers that he believed Curley drove to Ronan on back roads in order to avoid law enforcement, the documents state.

Curley’s charges carry a maximum 30-year prison sentence and up to $100,000 in fines.

The accident was particularly disturbing to Northwood residents, who said they often worry about reckless drivers speeding through the park.

Mary Sherman, president of the co-op that manages the park, said that the community is attempting to come together after the incident. She said residents held a Christmas tree decorating ceremony over the weekend in part to honor the 3-year-old.

An Phillip Shourds Jr. memorial account on the website GoFundMe.com had raised more than $2,700 as of Tuesday. Bill Lamon, who owns several trailers in the park, has also established multiple campaigns. Donations for those efforts can be given to the Phillip Shourds Jr. Benefit Fund at Eagle Bank, or sent to Phillip Shourds, P.O. Box 611, Pablo, MT.