Fatal crash, 100 mph chase in separate I-90 incidents

A 24-year-old Port Orchard, Wash., man was killed on Saturday when the vehicle in which he was traveling crashed near Saltese on Interstate 90, according to the Montana Highway Patrol dispatch.

A Toyota Forerunner being driven by a 26-year-old woman from Kirkland, Wash., was traveling in the eastbound lane when she lost control and crossed over both lanes of traffic and struck an impact attenuator in the median.

The male passenger was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, which rolled several times and came to rest on the westbound lanes of the interstate — blocking both lanes of traffic. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman received minor injuries and was transported to the Shoshone Medical Hospital in Idaho. Alcohol and speed are both suspected in the cause of the crash.

In a separate incident, on Thursday, Aug. 23, a high-speed chase which started in downtown Missoula ended in Idaho. The driver was 34-year-old Michael Murray, who crashed his vehicle approximately 58 miles past the Idaho state border shortly before 6 p.m., according the Idaho dispatch.

The chase began when Missoula police attempted to stop Murray, who had an arrest warrant out against him. He fled through town and turned onto Interstate 90 where speeds reached over 100 mph. Around 4:30 p.m., he turned onto Petty Creek Road near Alberton.

Several people in the area commented that they saw the chase, including students who were returning home on their school bus. Murray then turned west onto Highway 12 and crossed Lolo Pass. During the chase, officers tried to put down “stop sticks” used to deflate the suspect’s tires.

Once the vehicle went over the Idaho line, the Idaho State Police took over the chase and Murray was arrested after he crashed his vehicle.