Missoula Area News

Woman killed in Evaro Hill truck accident

Posted: Jan 7, 2013 7:54 AM by Tiffany Murphy

EVARO - Montana Highway Patrol troopers say one person died in a Sunday afternoon multi-vehicle accident on Evaro Hill.

Thee crash happened on U.S. Highway 93 North near Evaro Hill Road at around 3:30 p.m., with MHP investigators saying the driver of a Toyota Tundra pickup truck crossed the center line, side swiped a second truck, continued going the wrong way, hit a guard rail then struck a smaller Ford Ranger pickup truck head-on.

Trooper say that a 21-year-old woman from Plains was in the Ranger and even though she was wearing her seat belt, she died from her injuries. Three other people were taken to Saint Patrick Hospital in Missoula to be treated for the injuries they suffered in the accident.

MHP Trooper Phillip Smart says the preliminary investigation doesn't suggest alcohol or speed were involved in the crash. MHP says the roads were damp and that might have caused the Toyota to go out of control, but the wreck is still under investigation.

All four lanes of U.S. Highway 93 were shut down until the accident was cleaned up, and the busy road wasn't re-opened to full traffic until 7 p.m.