Investigators Blame Speed for 18-year’s Death Near Missoula

Update: Friday AM

Montana Highway Patrol investigators now say speed, and possibly drugs, were factors in the fatal accident that took an 18-year-old's life on Highway 93 south of Missoula Thursday morning.

The initial report from MHP says the crash happened at 7:20 Friday morning when the young man from Lolo was traveling south at a high rate of speed and failed to make the first corner south of Blue Mountain Road.

Troopers say the car crossed over the lanes of opposing traffic, slamming into a guardrail. That's where the Honda was hit by a 28-year-old Livingston woman driving northbound in a Hyundai SUV. She was also injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The name of the victim wasn't immediately released and the crash remains under investigation.

ORIGINAL STORY

Traffic in the miles-long backup began to clear shortly before 10 am. At one point the traffic was backed up all the way to Maclay Road on the south end. Heavy traffic volume also had traffic backed up north of the accident scene into Missoula.

We're waiting for more details on the accident itself to be released by MHP.

(First Report: May 30 at 8:19 AM)

Drivers are facing major delays on their morning commute from the Bitterroot into Missoula after a serious accident happened in the 93 "S" curves south of town.

Montana Highway Patrol is reporting it's a "fatal": accident according to the initial information. But there were no other immediate details.

Callers to our morning radio shows reported the accident is in the vicinity of 93 between Hayes Creek and Wornath Road. That's in the straightway section of the "S" curves before the final turns coming into Missoula.

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Crash caused immediate backups

MHP was dispatched to the accident around 7:20 and the miles-long backup started within a few minutes. By 8 am, the line of traffic extended south all the way across the "Flats" and was slowing traffic in Lolo.

Northbound traffic was initially backing up to the Blue Mountain intersection but began moving shortly before 8 pm.

Delays expected to continue

Since it's reportedly a fatal accident, it's likely emergency responders and accident investigators will be on the scene for at least a couple of hours. So expect slow going through the morning. And if you're coming into Missoula and can delay your trip, or work remotely, that is probably the best choice.