Anaconda man pleads guilty to fatal DUI crash

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Nov 19, 2009 at 10:42 AM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2009 at 10:42 AM MDT

ANACONDA - A 23-year-old Anaconda man has pleaded guilty to a drunken driving crash that killed one man and injured another.

Justin M. Saltenberger pleaded guilty Wednesday to felony vehicular homicide while under the influence and negligent vehicular assault.

Under the plea agreement, the state will recommend Saltenberger be sentenced to 15 years in prison with all but five years suspended on the felony, with a one-year suspended sentence on the negligent vehicular assault. The state will also recommend that he be placed in the Warm Springs Addictions Treatment and Change program.

District Judge Ray Dayton advised Saltenberger that he is not bound by the plea agreement.

Saltenberger was charged after his vehicle drifted across Highway 1 west of Anaconda on Dec. 23, 2008, causing a head-on crash that killed the driver of an oncoming vehicle, 72-year-old Lee F. Lang of Anaconda and injured Saltenberger's passenger, Shawn Hughes.

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