Two individuals died and one individual is injured after a four-vehicle crash occurred near mile marker 5 on U.S. Highway 93 north of Missoula on Friday evening.
According to officials, around 4 p.m. on Friday, a 52-year-old man driving a semitruck was traveling southbound on Highway 93 when the truck’s trailer began to jackknife on the icy roads.
As a result, the man attempted to correct the vehicle by rotating counterclockwise, but instead crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic.
Once over the line, the truck slid down the road before colliding with a GMC Sierra heading north.
Both the male driver and female passenger in the GMC were pronounced dead on the scene after allegedly suffering fatal injuries.
A 26-year-old Ronan driver was following the semitruck and saw the accident before applying the brakes, but he collided with the trailer.
The impact of the crash caused the semitruck’s trailer to unjackknife and rotate clockwise. The truck reportedly rotated 180 degrees before leaving the road and losing its plywood load.
A Chrysler travelling northbound behind the GMC Sierra attempted to steer to the right to avoid the accident, but collided with the semitruck’s trailer.
According to officials, the driver of the semitruck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, while the Ronan man and the driver of the Chrysler were uninjured.
The Montana Highway Patrol also reported that one pedestrian was struck while walking away from a crash in the area at the time. Their current condition is unknown.
Montana Highway Patrol officials worked for hours to clear the scene, but traffic was backed up about a half-mile away on Evaro Hill.
The accident is reportedly being investigated at this time, but officials say speed was a contributing factor.
