Missoula man dies after crash into guardrail

MISSOULA — A 26-year-old Missoula man died after his vehicle hit the guardrail on a one-lane bridge and landed on its side in an irrigation ditch south of Frenchtown.

The Montana Highway Patrol says the crash was reported just before midnight on Wednesday. 

Missoula County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeremy Meeder said the guardrail went through the windshield and struck Derrick R. Franchuk in the head, killing him. Meeder says Franchuk’s car teetered on the bridge before falling into the water.

Meeder says Franchuk was removed from the vehicle shortly after 1:30 a.m.

It took three tow trucks and a crane to remove the car from the water.