Rehberg, Barkus, three others injured in boat crash

While his state director Dustin Frost remains hospitalized with a head injury, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg was released from Kalispell Regional Medical Center Monday and headed for his home in Billings.

Rehberg, Frost, State Sen. Greg Barkus and two others are recuperating after a boat crash Thursday night just south of Wayfarers State Park on Flathead Lake. Barkus, R-Kalispell, was driving his 22-foot speedboat when it crashed onto rocks about 10:25 p.m. Thursday as the party of five returned from a dinner on the west side of the lake to Marina Cay Resort where Rehberg was staying.

As of Monday afternoon, Frost remained sedated at KRMC and was being closely monitored for a brain injury. Barkus also remained hospitalized.

They're "optimistic that he is progressing at the rate he needs to,"Rehberg spokesman Erik Iverson said of Frost. "They're optimistic that he will recover, although nobody can gauge the level of recovery."

Rehberg suffered a broken ankle which required surgery, and he has a fracture around his eye.

Barkus and his wife, Kathleen, also were injured in the crash but reportedly were doing well by Saturday.

Deputy Chief of Staff Kristin Smith suffered cuts to her face and head and several fractures, including her nose and wrist, but was expected to be released.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks began investigating the crash, but by midday Friday the Flathead County Sheriff's Department had taken over the lead.

One point in the investigation is blood alcohol levels. Rehberg's reportedly was .05, below the legal limit to drive the boat — although, Iverson stressed, it was not his boat and he was not driving.

Flathead County Sheriff's Department Detective Sgt. Dave Leib said Saturday that investigators would try to obtain a blood sample from Barkus for analysis at the state crime lab.