Two Montana Men Escape Injury, Train Hit Jeep

LIBBY, Mont. (AP) — A middle-of-the-night off-road adventure near the railroad tracks in northwestern Montana ended with a smashed Jeep Cherokee and the driver's arrest.

Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Duane Bowers says 23-year-old Joshua Vanzile of Libby was trying to drive between a steep rock embankment and the rails when the Jeep became stuck in deep gravel at about 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Bowers says shortly after Vanzile and his passenger got out of the Jeep to assess the situation, a freight train came around a curve and struck the vehicle. The Jeep was pushed into the rock embankment. Neither man was hurt.

The Missoulian reports the train was traveling about 30 mph. The collision disrupted rail service for several hours.

Vanzile was taken to the Lincoln County jail for processing. Charges against him are pending.