Mahseelah sentenced for hit-and-run

A St. Ignatius man, who admitted to striking a friend and fellow party attendee with his truck and killing him, was committed to the Montana Department of Corrections for 10 years with nine suspended during a hearing April 10 in Polson District Court.

Tommy Van Mahseelah, 20, entered a plea of guilty in Polson District Court Feb. 7 to felony negligent homicide. The plea was entered as part of an agreement that dismisses one count of felony accidents involving another person or deceased person.

According to court records, on Nov. 19, 2022, about a dozen underage kids went up Mission Dam Road to celebrate after the St. Ignatius Bulldogs played in the State Championship Football game. The youths consumed alcohol and drove back to St. Ignatius in four separate vehicles.

At one point, one of the vehicles carrying passenger David Hammer stopped so a more-sober driver could take the wheel. However, Hammer did not get back in, and was left along the roadside.

A short time later, Mahseelah came by driving his flatbed truck with camouflage paint job and struck Hammer with his truck. Hammer’s body was discovered by his own mother, who was out looking for her son. She had already come across Mahseelah who indicated to her that Hammer was already back in town.

Lifesaving efforts were administered to Hammer by an ambulance crew, but the young man was declared dead at 3:42 a.m. Nov. 20, 2022.

Based on witness statements, investigators turned their focus on Mahseelah. When questioned, Mahseelah admitted that his vehicle was the last to leave the party and indicated that his windshield was fogged up.

He also admitted that he saw something in the road, and thought it was just snow before hitting the object. He said when he and his passengers got out to see what they struck, they allegedly found Hammer face down in the roadway. They reportedly rolled Hammer onto his back and realized he was not breathing. At some point they came across Hammer’s mother and lied to her about her son’s whereabouts.

Judge Molly Owen gave Mahseelah credit for 327 days already served, before remanding him to the Lake County Sheriff to begin serving the rest of his term.