Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Montana man has been sentenced to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty in an OWI crash case.
According to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office, Lance Harvey Haugen of Glendive, Montana, pleaded guilty in July and was sentenced this week on four counts of Serious Injury by Motor Vehicle – Operating While Intoxicated, a Class D Felony. Each charge carries a five-year term of incarceration, and the judge ordered the sentences to be served concurrently to each other, or at the same time.
The county attorney’s office says Haugen was further ordered to pay a fine of $1,025 for each charge, 15% surcharge, victim restitution, and court costs. Haugen was also charged with other offenses, which were dismissed as part of the plea agreement in the case. In accordance with Iowa Code, Mr. Haugen was not placed on probation and instead will be transported to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center to begin his sentence of incarceration.
The case started with a personal injury motor vehicle crash nearly two years ago at the intersection of Beech Avenue and 140th Street or A18, four miles west of Larchwood. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office investigated and determined that Haugen had failed to stop at the stop sign and entered the intersection striking another vehicle traveling eastbound on 140th Street. The vehicle contained four individuals who were seriously injured. The vehicle also caught fire.
Individuals were taken to the hospital and released following treatment for their injuries. Mr. Haugen was determined by investigation and chemical testing to have been impaired at the time of the accident due to THC consumption and intoxication.
Off-duty Lennox, South Dakota police officer Ismael Small happened upon the crash and was credited with saving the lives of the victims.
