GREAT FALLS, Mont. (NMB) – A Harlem man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after admitting to being the driver in an ATV crash that left a woman dead.
Taylor Gardipee Walker, 22, entered the plea on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Great Falls, admitting to drinking and driving a four-wheeler on the morning of January 1st, 2020, that rolled over and crashed on the Fort Belknap Reservation, resulting in the death of an unnamed female passenger.
Court documents state that at about 3 AM on January 1st, Walker went for a ride with the woman on Rodeo Drive. Walker lost control of the ATV, leading to it rolling over and sending him and the victim to the pavement. Walker was seen fleeing the scene on foot.
Law enforcement and emergency personnel responded and found the victim barely breathing. She was transported to a Great Falls Hospital but died of her injuries later that day.
Officers found Walker’s wallet at the scene and eventually located him in a bedroom closet of a residence. Walker had blood on his clothing and abrasions on his hands, and was arrested for failing to report an accident.
Walker eventually admitted to being the driver in the crash. The investigation determined that Walker had a blood alcohol concentration of .0145 percent approximately 3 1/2 hours after the crash.
Although court documents have not identified the victim, the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office has previously identified her as 30-year-old Leah Fox of Harlem.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and set sentencing for February 25th, 2021. Walker was released following the hearing.
Walker faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Walker initially pleaded not guilty, and was set to face a jury trial next month.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI, Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services, the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol.
