Bus, truck crash south of Arlee injures 4
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ARLEE — A crash involving the driver of a pickup truck and a Rimrock Stages passenger bus resulted in four injuries around 9 a.m. May 22.
The 20-year-old pickup driver from Missoula was the most seriously injured in the wreck that occurred on U.S. Highway 93 north near mile marker 12 south of Arlee. The pickup driver sustained a broken right leg and was in intensive care early last week.
According to Arlee Fire Chief Ken Light, the truck and bus were head northbound and as the truck slowed down to turn left, the bus also turned left to avoid hitting the vehicle.
“The road was wet and slick,” Light said.
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Philip Smart said the crash is still under investigation.
There have been reports that passengers on the bus said the pickup truck did not have any taillights.
The bus struck the car, pushing it about 250 feet across the highway and then into an embankment. The bus was wedged into the driver’s side of the pickup.
The bus was headed to Polson and Whitefish and there were 12 passengers on board, including the driver and co-driver.
Smart said no citations will be issued by the Montana Highway Patrol, but he has forwarded the case to the County Attorney’s office.
“We’ve had other wrecks in that same spot,” said Light, adding that this particular section of U.S. 93 has no left-hand turning lane. “It could have been a heck of a lot worse.”
