HOT SPRINGS – Authorities say a 21-year-old Arlee man who went looking for help after he crashed his car into a creek was found frozen to death Tuesday in a field near the wreck site.
Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Roman Zylawy said two Arlee men suffered minor injuries when the car crashed into Little Bitterroot Creek east of Hot Springs at about 4 a.m.
The sergeant said the driver went looking for help in below-freezing temperatures while his passengers stayed behind. A county snowplow driver came upon the scene at about 6:40 a.m. and alerted authorities.
Search and Rescue teams from Sanders and Lake counties found the driver’s body Tuesday afternoon about a half mile from the accident. Authorities did not release the names or ages of the victims, but Zylawy said they all were 21 or younger.