Crash kills Lake County teen

A two-vehicle traffic accident resulted in the death of a 15-year-old Lake County girl early Saturday morning near Ronan.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Jeremy Lee, the crash occurred at about 5:14 a.m. on U.S. 93, near milemarker 45, south of Ronan.

The 15-year-old girl and another 17-year-old female were traveling south in a 2006 Jeep Wrangler when they pulled to the side of the road as a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Corey White, approached. He was responding to a hostage incident in the Mission area. The status of that case is not currently known.

Tpr. Lee said that as Deputy White attempted to pass by the Wrangler, the driver of the Jeep attempted a U-turn and drove into the path of Deputy White’s 2016 Dodge Charger, resulting in a collision.

Both females in the Wrangler were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the vehicle.

The 17-year-old female suffered serious injuries and was taken by Ronan Ambulance Service to St. Luke Community Hospital.

“If they had been wearing seat belts, it would have reduced their injuries by quite a bit,” Tpr. Lee said. “It’s why the girl died.”

Tpr. Lee said Deputy White, who was wearing a seat belt, did suffer cuts and bruises to his face and arms but was able to get out of his vehicle and attend to the girls.

It is not yet known if alcohol or drugs were a cause in the crash and Tpr. Lee said he believed the 15-year-old was driving, but was still investigating.

Tpr. Lee was assisted at the scene by law officers from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Ronan Volunteer Fire Department, Ronan Ambulance and the Montana Department of Transportation.