BUTTE -- A 20-year-old man was charged Monday in Butte justice court in the fatal hit-and-run accident that killed a 14-year-old Butte girl late Saturday.

Wade Glen Petersen of Helena, formerly of Butte, made an initial appearance in Butte justice court shortly after 2 p.m. before Justice Robert Lee.

Petersen, who is represented by Butte lawyer Brad Belke, is charged with one count of vehicular homicide while under the influence and two counts of negligent vehicular assault, all felonies.

His parents, Lynn and Ray Petersen of 4399 Blacktail Loop, accompanied their son to the hearing and posted a $100,000 property bail bond. All three grimaced as Lee read a criminal complaint filed against Petersen Monday by deputy county attorney Mike Clague.

Mariah McCarthy, 14, was among three girls who were hit by a pickup truck just before midnight Saturday. She was flown to St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula, where she died.

She was walking on a path along Blacktail Lane with friends Valerie Kilmer and Kaitlyn Okrusch, also 14, when the hit-and-run occurred, police said.

As of Monday afternoon, Kilmer remained in guarded condition in the Intensive Care Unit of St. James Healthcare; Okrusch remained in stable condition, according to Amanda Badovinic, hospital spokeswoman.

Petersen's lawyer, Belke, told The Standard that Petersen told police he looked away from the road to adjust the stereo in his truck when he "heard a hit."

Petersen then stopped his vehicle and got out assuming he had struck a deer, Belke said. He told a witness at the scene he struck a deer before getting back in his truck and driving away, Belke said.

The driver learned from police later that night that three girls had been struck, Belke said.

"He's just a basket case, and his family, too," Belke said Monday afternoon. "The other families have to be, my God. I was public defender here for 27 years and I don't think I've seen anything so sad."

Petersen faces up to 30 years and $50,000 in fines for the vehicular homicide charge and 10 years and $10,000 in fines for each of the negligent vehicular assault charges.

The combined charges mean Petersen, if found guilty, could spend up to 50 years in prison and be ordered to pay $70,000 in fines, Lee said.

The judge scheduled a Nov. 23 preliminary hearing. Until then, Petersen may only may travel between Butte and Helena, where he lives.

Police received a 911 call about the accident just after midnight. The girls were walking south on the path when a southbound pickup truck veered off the road and struck them, police said. The accident occurred in a residential area west of the new Three Bears Alaska store.

The driver of the pickup truck stopped momentarily after the accident, and then drove away, according to police.

A passing motorist called 911 on a cell phone after seeing the victims.

A police patrol found the driver and the pickup truck suspected in the hit-and-run about an hour later at the home of Petersen's parents, Lee said.