I-90 closed for two hours due to elk collision
A chain reaction caused traffic to be delayed for nearly two hours on I90 near the Fish Creek exit on May 24. No injuries were reported but hazardous material was spilled causing further delays. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)
A small SUV hit an elk, causing a chain reaction on Interstate 90 on Thursday, May 24, that led to both lanes being closed for several hours. After hitting the elk, a pickup truck hauling a camper, rear-ended the SUV and then a semi-truck hit the camper and jack-knifed into the other lane, according to Frenchtown Fire Department representative, Mel Holtz. Though his department was not on the scene, he followed up with a report.
The accident happened just past the Fish Creek exit near mile marker 66 around 2:20 p.m. The semi had a diesel spill and the camper spilled sewage onto the road and required cleanup. No injuries were reported; however both lanes of traffic were stopped for two hours until the area could be cleaned up and the semi towed away.
Traffic began to move around 4 p.m. when one lane was reopened, helping to relieve nearly 10 miles of backed-up traffic. Vehicles were backed up almost to Alberton in the west lane, and past Tarkio in the east lane.
It was a busy evening for the Montana Highway Patrol as several calls came in around 6 p.m. including a oil spill near the Wye on Highway 93 near mile marker 5. Holtz said a small tank of oil fell off the back of a trailer spilling all over the southbound lane and into the north lane, causing both to be closed.
Both lanes were closed for nearly two hours while the spill was cleaned up. Then the north bound lane was reopened to allow traffic through while the south lane was swept up. The vehicle carrying the oil did not stop, Holtz said either they were unaware it had fallen or they knew it fell and just kept going.