Two injured in collision
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
RONAN — A woman and a 4-year-old child were lifeflighted to a Missoula hospital Saturday evening after two vehicles were involved in a near head-on collision near Eagle Pass Trail and U.S. Highway 93 around 7 p.m. According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Shad Andersen, the southbound vehicle was carrying a mother and her four children. The mother became distracted with her children, causing her to drift into the northbound lane, striking a three-quarter-ton Dodge pickup pulling a fifth-wheel trailer.
Once all the passengers of both vehicles safely exited their vehicles, the mother’s sport utility vehicle caught on fire.
“The driver of the SUV said that nobody was seatbelted in,” Andersen said. “Two of the kids were under 6 years old and 60 pounds. The other two kids were 11 and 9, I believe. The mom told me she took the child restraints out of the vehicle to have them cleaned and hadn’t put them back in.”
The mother sustained a broken rib, fractured neck, a leg laceration and a broken ankle. The 4-year-old girl sustained a laceration to the face and possible head trauma.
According to Andersen, alcohol, speed and road conditions were not factors. He added the woman will be charged with multiple tickets.
“I want to remind everyone to buckle up,” Andersen said. “All of the kids could’ve walked away with minor injuries if they were buckled in. They are all lucky to be alive.”
