Driver dies in Lincoln County

A driver whose truck hit black ice on U.S. 2 near Libby on Friday morning died in the ensuing crash.

Eric Groff, 26, from Troy, died when his 1997 Toyota pickup slid into the path of a 2001 GMC pickup driven by Roger Skaggs, 56, of Tehachapi, Calif.

The crash happened about five miles west of Libby, according to Sgt. Duane Bowers of the Montana Highway Patrol.

Groff died instantly, Bowers said. Skaggs and his passenger, Margaret Skaggs, 55, of Tehachapi, had to be extricated from their truck. She went by ALERT helicopter to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane. Roger Skaggs was taken first to St. John's Hospital in Libby and then to Deaconess.

Alcohol was not a factor and everyone involved wore a seat belt, Bower said. However, the airbag on the passenger side of Skaggs' vehicle had been manually turned off, contributing to the extent of injuries Margaret Skaggs sustained.

Bower reminds people that although weather has been spring-like for the past several weeks, winter driving conditions do exist through the state.

"The atmospheric conditions have been perfect for black-ice conditions. If the road surface appears to be darker than usual or wet, slow down and proceed with caution and, as always, buckle up," Bower said.