STEVENSVILLE — About 30 bison escaped a western Montana ranch and ended up on the highway near Stevensville, where two suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a pickup truck.
Bitterroot Bison owner Troy Westre tells the Ravalli Republic someone apparently opened a gate on the north end of the ranch property Monday evening.
The Montana Highway Patrol received a report of bison on the Eastside Highway at 8:50 p.m.
Patrol Sgt. Scott Bennett says one bison was killed by the collision with the pickup truck and another had a broken leg and was euthanized. The pickup was totaled. The patrol’s incident report does not indicate the driver was injured.
Family, friends and neighbors helped Westre round up the rest of the herd and they were back at the ranch by midnight.