On January 4, 2024, at 1:26 am, Gallatin County Dispatch began receiving calls of a wrong way driver on Interstate 90 at mile marker 294.  The suspect vehicle was reportedly traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.  The suspect vehicle subsequently caused a head on collision with another vehicle at mile marker 278.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Manhattan Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol and Three Forks Fire responded to the scene of the crash. The victim, a 22-year-old Townsend native currently residing in Belgrade, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene.  The driver of the suspect vehicle was extricated and transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center.

The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the accident with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.