Ronney Harriman sentenced in wreck that injured five people

The Daily Inter Lake

Ronney Harriman, the Somers man who plowed into the rear end of a pickup Oct. 14 in a crash that one trooper described as "amazing that no one died," was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in state prison.

Harriman, who was 46 when the crash occurred just west of the S-curves on Montana 82, was designated a persistent felony offender by District Court Judge Stewart Stadler and given a 40-year-sentence, with 25 years suspended. He also appeared on two counts of felony criminal endangerment and felony DUI.

In effect, Stadler noted, the sentence keeps Harriman on probation until he is 86 years old.

Harriman was reported to be extremely intoxicated when his Isuzu Rodeo slammed at full highway speed into the rear end of a Toyota pickup that was slowing to turn into a waterfowl-production area at the north end of Flathead Lake.

The Toyota's topper flew off, and two Whitefish boys, ages 11 and 19, were thrown from the bed of the pickup, as were two dogs. Two people in the cab, also of Whitefish, were thrown clear of the vehicle and into a surrounding field, County Attorney Ed Corrigan said.

The pickup's occupants and Harriman were injured in the crash.

Harriman testified Thursday to a long family history of alcohol problems. His own addiction to alcohol, he said, "destroyed me, isolated me … I didn't want to be around nobody."

He had undergone a three-month "watch" program and seven months of chemical dependency counseling, but went back to drinking.

He said treatment had failed him in the past, but "this accident made me realize what a problem I have."

"I can't say 'sorry' enough," Harriman said. "I've been here [in jail] four months and not a day goes by that this accident isn't in my mind."

He realizes that he could have killed the truck's occupants, he said in response to questioning from his attorney, Thane Johnson.

"I'm asking for one more chance," Harriman said. "I'm 110 percent committed to this [request for addiction treatment]. I'll never drink again. I can't. If I do, throw away the key. If I don't make it this time, this is it."

Corrigan argued that the court and community cannot take the risk of offering another chance.

"The problem is, Ronney, that you have been given [several chances] already," Corrigan said, detailing charges in 2002 and 2005.

"You were again given a chance in 2005, but you blew that chance," he said.

"We cannot risk, your honor, another chance being blown and this time people being killed."

Reporter Nancy Kimball can be reached at 758-4483 or by e-mail at nkimball@dailyinterlake.com