Hayden Crash That Killed Resident Linked to Inhalant Use, Suspect Had 48 Prior Jail Bookings
A Coeur d’Alene man arrested in connection with a fatal crash into a Hayden apartment building had passed out from huffing compressed air just minutes before the collision, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. Dillon W. Henderson, 41, faces charges of vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI in the death of Richard Allmon, who was killed when Henderson’s truck tore through the wall of an apartment in the 8700 block of North Avalanche Lane late Tuesday afternoon.
What Investigators Found
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson had purchased two cans of Dust Off — a commercially available compressed air product commonly misused as an inhalant — at a Walmart located approximately two blocks from the crash site. Surveillance footage showed him exiting the store, returning to his vehicle, and driving out of the parking lot roughly five minutes later. The crash occurred one minute after he pulled away.
Investigators recovered both cans from the truck — one unused and one that had been partially depleted — along with a used canister of nitrous oxide. Based on the evidence, authorities concluded Henderson inhaled from the Dust Off can while still in the Walmart parking lot, lost consciousness behind the wheel, and veered off Honeysuckle Avenue. The truck crossed into the opposite lane, mounted a curb, struck a fire hydrant, and then bored approximately 20 feet into the apartment building through a sliding glass door.
Two residents were struck and trapped beneath the truck. Allmon, who was seated in a recliner in the living room, died at the scene. A second resident, Pamela Mueller, suffered a deep laceration to her thigh that required staples and was transported to a local hospital. Mueller told deputies she and Allmon had been eating dinner together when she heard a sudden loud noise and saw what she described as a large dark object crashing through the door toward them.
This crash was covered in an earlier report — one dead, another seriously injured after a truck crashed into an apartment in Hayden.
Suspect’s Criminal History and Statements
Thursday’s arrest marked Henderson’s 48th booking into the Kootenai County Jail. If convicted of felony DUI, it would represent his third DUI offense within five years, according to court documents.
The arrest came just days after Henderson had been released from custody. He had been sentenced last June to a one-year rider program through the Idaho Department of Correction for felony possession of a controlled substance. A rider allows a judge to retain jurisdiction and redirect a defendant into a rehabilitation program rather than standard incarceration. Henderson’s jurisdictional review hearing was held May 22, after which he was released and placed on probation — only to be arrested again days later.
When deputies first spoke with Henderson at the scene, he claimed the crash resulted from mechanical failure — specifically, a stiff steering wheel and non-functioning brakes. He denied being under the influence. A subsequent mechanical inspection of the truck found no defects.
When interviewed again two days after the crash, Henderson acknowledged opening one of the Dust Off cans and using it inside the vehicle, but maintained he had not inhaled it. He offered no explanation for why the can had been used. When a deputy informed him that a lab report would likely confirm inhalant use, Henderson responded, “You can’t get a DUI for sucking air.” His father later told investigators that Henderson had a history of inhalant use.
Dangers of Inhalant Use Behind the Wheel
Investigators noted in court documents that inhalants such as nitrous oxide and compressed air products affect the central nervous system almost immediately, producing dizziness, disorientation, impaired coordination, euphoria, and in some cases sudden and complete loss of consciousness. Repeated use in a short period can be fatal. The rapid onset and severity of these effects make driving after inhalant use extremely dangerous.
What Comes Next
Henderson remained in the Kootenai County Jail as of Friday following his arrest. He faces vehicular manslaughter and felony DUI charges. The case is expected to proceed through Kootenai County District Court. Given his prior criminal history and the circumstances of his release just days before the fatal crash, the case raises broader questions about supervision and accountability within Idaho’s correctional and probation systems.
The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department, which recently welcomed a new leader — Jon Fugitt accepted the position of Coeur d’Alene Fire Chief — responded to the scene along with Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical personnel.