MISSOULA – Authorities have released the names of two teenage girls who were struck by a pickup and killed as they walked along Highway 200 near East Missoula.
Missoula County Sheriff Mike McMeekin says four members of the Missoula Hellgate freshman girls basketball team were struck by the pickup at 11:45 p.m. Saturday. The collision killed 14-year-old Ashley Patenaude and 15-year-old Taylor Cearley. McMeekin did not release the names of the injured girls, who were 14 and 15.
The driver of the truck, 29-year-old David James Delsignore of Clinton, stopped after hitting the girls. He was arrested on suspicion of two counts of negligent vehicular homicide while under the influence and two counts of negligent vehicular assault. Delsignore is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Monday.
Authorities have not released the names of the injured girls. Hellgate school officials say one was released from the hospital and the other was in stable condition Sunday.