Yellowstone tourist's idiotic defense for hitting worker with his Jeep

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

An Oregon man visiting Yellowstone National Park struck a park employee with his Jeep during a construction-related delay, later claiming he was in a rush because he had to urinate.
David Tyler Regnier, 67, of Bend, was driving near Canyon Junction last year when a traffic delay caused by road work backed up vehicles for as long as 45 minutes, according to a press release from the US Attorney's Office.
Frustrated, he attempted to bypass the construction zone, but when a Yellowstone employee tried to stop him, Regnier only accelerated, striking the employee and knocking him backward.
The 67-year-old argued that he suffered from a medical condition and was taken to the hospital later that day, claiming he had ultimately urinated on himself due to the extended delay, Jackson Hole News & Guide reported.
However, a federal jury convicted Regnier last month of assaulting a federal employee with a dangerous weapon - namely, his vehicle, according to the official release.
'Our office will take a strong stance against the frequent acts of violence directed at public servants who are merely doing their jobs to protect the community,' Acting US Attorney Stephanie Sprecher said in a statement.
On September 8, 2024, two Yellowstone National Park employees directing traffic near Canyon Junction amid road construction spotted a Jeep approaching the intersection from the wrong direction.
The driver, later identified as Regnier, was attempting to bypass the backed-up traffic, ignoring warnings and road flaggers in the process.
Regnier was driving near Canyon Junction (pictured) last year when a traffic delay caused by construction backed up vehicles for as long as 45 minutes - but the 67-year-old man attempted to bypass the blockages driving the opposite direction
As he approached the park employees, Regnier voiced his frustration over how traffic was being managed through the construction zone, reportedly telling the flaggers he urgently needed to use a restroom.
One employee sternly told Regnier he couldn't proceed and needed to back up, while the other stood in front of the Jeep, holding a stop sign like a shield, according to the press release.
But instead of complying, Regnier put his foot on the gas, accelerating into the employee and physically knocking him backward - though the worker managed to leap out of the way just in time to avoid injury.
The confrontation finally came to an end when park rangers intercepted Regnier at Trout Creek along Grand Loop Road, as reported by JH News & Guide.
According to the court report obtained by the outlet, Regnier, who reportedly suffers from a medical condition, had already urinated in his pants by the time he was stopped by officers.
Regnier was initially charged with three misdemeanors, including failure to comply with a traffic control device, according to JH News & Guide.
In November 2024, just two months later, a grand jury charged Regnier with one count of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
In this case, prosecutors argued, the weapon was Regnier's Jeep.
Regnier's attorney, Ryan Wright, detailed his client's version of events, outlined in an April court filing obtained by Cowboy State Daily.
He claimed that as he attempted to turn left, one of the park employees suddenly 'jumped in front of Mr. Regnier's moving Jeep, attempting to stop the Jeep with his bare hands'.
The supervising flagger then reportedly told him to get back in line, but Regnier insisted he urgently needed to go to the bathroom, claiming the supervisor 'would not listen'.
According to the court filing, Wright stated that the employee refused to move and continued attempting to stop Regnier's Jeep using both his body and hands.
Eventually, Wright said, the park employee stepped to the side of the Jeep and struck the vehicle with his stop/slow signs as Regnier drove away.
Using camera footage from the incident, Wright quoted the park employee who was struck by the Jeep - though he wasn't injured from the shove, according to Cowboy State Daily.
'Do you think this is something that I can sue the guy for and maybe get some money?' the worker asked another person, according to the filing.
'What if I say I was too scared to flag ever again,' he added. 'Play the system. You know.'
In the filing, Wright stated that Regnier had just changed his blood pressure medication about a week earlier at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain his pilot's license.
Wright wrote that the 67-year-old man experienced medical issues on the day of the incident, explaining how he felt unwell and had elevated blood pressure.
According to the filing, law enforcement took Regnier to the hospital later that day, believing he was suffering from a heart attack.
However, he was ultimately released from the hospital's care late that night.
'Mr. Regnier was very remorseful,' Wright wrote, as reported by Cowboy State Daily.
On May 14, the court denied a motion to dismiss the charge against Regnier, which had argued that his urgent need to urinate - and uncertainty over whether national park flaggers were considered federal employees - justified dropping his case, as reported by JH News & Guide.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook led the prosecution in the case, which was tried over three days before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin.
On May 21, Regnier was found guilty of the felony charge following the three-day trial in Cheyenne's US District Court, according to the US Attorney's Office press release.
He now faces up to a $250,000 fine, $100 special assessment and 20 years in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow.
Sentencing has since been set for August 7.