A 58-year-old Ronan man, identified by Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) as Wade Tibbets, died in a car crash while driving in Lake County on the morning of Oct. 21.
According to MHP, the man was heading south on U.S. Highway 93 toward St. Ignatius when a northbound vehicle crossed the center line for an unknown reason. The struck vehicle exited the road and rolled, ejecting the passenger who was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver from Ronan died on impact while the passenger, a 55-year-old man also from Ronan, was injured and transported to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
The driver of the northbound vehicle was a 49-year-old man from Arlee who sustained injuries and was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Ronan. The crash is still under investigation.