Trout Creek man dies in Memorial Day crash

Memorial Day weekend ended in tragedy with a fatal single-vehicle car wreck near Trout Creek.

The SUV was traveling west along Montana 200 on Monday, May 28 just outside of Trout Creek when the accident occurred.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Jordan Gulick said the accident happened at mile marker 27.6 when the driver attempted to pass another vehicle along a straight stretch of highway. Gulick said that the most likely reason for the accident was the possibility of the left rear tire coming off the vehicle.

“We think what happened was when the driver went to pass another vehicle the back wheel came off which resulted in him moving back into the right hand lane before exiting the north side of the road before entering the ditch and rolling,” said Gulick.

Gulick confirmed the male driver, 71-years old of Trout Creek, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased on the scene.

The vehicle traveled with two adults and five children between 9 years old and 16 years old. Names of those involved have not been released.

An adult female and teenage female occupant were seriously injured from the accident and were required to be flown from the scene by air ambulance.

“The adult female was life-flighted to St. Patricks and the female teen was life-flighted to Kootenai. I am unaware of their injuries at this stage, however they were both considered in a serious condition when on scene,” said Gulick.

The four other occupants of the vehicle were all taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital for general check with minor injuries.

“There was only one teenage male traveling in the vehicle that was wearing a seatbelt,” said Gulick.

“Because he was wearing a seat belt, he walked away from the accident relatively unharmed. He traveled with the other children to the hospital in the ambulance from the scene,” he added.

A mapping of the accident was conducted Tuesday morning by the Montana Highway Patrol.

“Based on the severity of the accident, had all occupants been wearing their seat belts, this wouldn’t have been a fatality,” said Gulick.

As the investigation is still open, authorities believe alcohol or drugs were not a factor.