Missoula DUI Crash: Man Attempts to Urinate While Driving
Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - At approximately 9:13 p.m. on November 8, 2025, a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper responded to the 101 mile marker of Interstate 90 East for a reported two-vehicle non-injury crash, which was blocking an exit ramp. While the trooper was responding, he was notified that the vehicles had cleared the ramp and had parked at the Grant Creek Town Pump.
The trooper contacted the reporting party, who described both vehicles, his being a white Volkswagen and the other being a white Chevrolet Suburban. The trooper arrived at the gas station and approached the driver’s side of the Suburban. The driver had a large Budweiser beer can in his right hand, which he moved into the center console. The driver, identified as 53-year-old James Howard, provided the trooper with the can when asked and said it contained urine and not beer.
Howard said he was traveling from south to north on Reserve Street and had rear-ended another vehicle near the I-90 westbound exit/entrance ramps. The trooper noticed a strong smell of alcoholic beverage on Howard’s breath, and that Howard’s speech was slow and slurred. Howard stated, “I’m going to jail for a f*****g long time.”
He Attempted to Urinate Into a Beer Can While Driving
According to court documents, he stated that he had rear-ended the vehicle because he was attempting to urinate into the beer can while driving. The trooper noticed that Howard’s pants were wet with urine. Howard stated he had had one beer. Howard stated that he had “more than a couple of DUIs” and was not supposed to be driving.
The reporting party stated that he had gotten off of I-90 and came to a stoplight on North Reserve. He saw lights approaching in his rearview mirror and told his girlfriend to brace for impact, after which their vehicle was struck. Howard then got out of his vehicle and apologized for the accident. They moved their vehicles to the parking lot after waiting approximately ten minutes for law enforcement.
The trooper administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus (“HGN”) test on Howard and noted six of six standardized clues. Howard did not agree to perform the walk and turn or one-legged stand test, stating, “I just can’t do it.”
READ MORE: Missoula News – Crime Reports
Howard consented to a preliminary alcohol screening test, which showed a breath alcohol concentration of .264, and an Intoxilyzer test, which showed a breath alcohol concentration of .262.
Court documents indicate Howard’s driver’s license was suspended as of November 9, 2025. Howard has prior impaired driving convictions in North Dakota in May of 2025, Montana in 2007, Montana in 1995, and Montana in 1994.
He is currently being charged with felony aggravated DUI, driving with a suspended license, and careless driving. His bond was set at $10,000.
The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.