A 27-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded not guilty Thursday in Flathead District Court to three felonies including negligent vehicular assault.

Sean Francisco West also is charged with criminal endangerment and failure to remain at the scene of an accident.

The charges stem from a Jan. 19 accident where West allegedly ran a red light in his sport utility vehicle and smashed into another car.

According to a court document, when Kristy Elrod entered the intersection of Reserve Drive and U.S. 2 on a green light, West T-boned her vehicle.

The impact ejected Derrick Hayward, one of her two passengers. He flew approximately 63 feet before landing in the road. Hayward was hospitalized for several days after the accident with a lacerated liver among other injuries.

A witness reported hearing a crash and running around the corner of a gas station to see a man running away from the SUV. She told him to stop, to which he responded, “I can’t do this,” and kept running.

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper said the SUV had severe front-end damage and had traveled 35 feet after impact, indicating it had been moving at high speed. The passenger side of Elrod’s car had been caved in.

The court document states West later called dispatch and provided both his location and his phone number. The trooper met with West, who allegedly admitted he had been drinking and was trying to drive home when he ran the red light and struck Elrod’s car.

West said he got scared and ran away and that he had aggravated a previous ankle injury. He was then transported to the hospital.

West allegedly said he had drunk between six and eight beers before the accident and agreed to take a breath alcohol test and provide a blood sample. According to the court document, West’s breath alcohol test indicated that four hours after the accident his blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit.

If convicted of all charges, West faces between one and 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $110,000 as well as any restitution. His next hearing is scheduled for April 10.