Drowsy driving causes vehicle wreck

A Montana Highway Patrol trooper attended a unique call out to River Road West on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

A vehicle ended up down the side of a slew along the road, approximately two miles from the fairgrounds — due to the driver apparently falling asleep at the wheel.

MHP Trooper Jourdon Gulick attended the scene a few hours after the incident occurred.

A 17-year-old local driver was said to have fallen asleep at the wheel on the way to work, and veered off River Road West as he was headed east toward Plains.

The red SUV passed through a stock fence and came to a stop against a tree and some brush along the water’s edge of the slew.

It was said that the driver had had the accident at approximately 5 a.m. that day, but didn’t call it in until around 8 a.m. as he thought MHP was closed until that time.

“He didn’t have any injuries resulting from the accident,” said Gulick.

Valley Towing arrived at the scene at approximately 10:30 a.m. to pull the car out of the slew, and had to navigate the barb wire stock fence in order to get it out.

Gulick advised that the young driver was cited for careless driving as a result.

“If you’re tired, don’t drive,” said Gulick. ”It doesn’t matter how far you are traveling, if you drive tired, you could have an accident, hurt yourself or someone else.”

Should you find you need to phone for help from an accident, know that the Montana Highway Patrol along with other emergency services are open all day and night, you just need to phone 9-1-1 for help.