BIG TIMBER, Mont. — A deadly rollover crash on Interstate 90 early Sunday morning has claimed the life of a 41-year-old woman and left another woman injured, according to the Montana Highway Patrol. The crash is now under active investigation as authorities work to determine what caused the vehicle to suddenly lose control.
Officials say the crash occurred at approximately 7:40 a.m. near mile marker 374, just outside Big Timber. A Hyundai Elantra was traveling eastbound when, for reasons still being investigated, it suddenly swerved to the right side of the roadway before overturning.
The passenger in the vehicle, identified as Channa Whiteman of Crow Agency, was killed in the crash. Authorities confirmed that Whiteman was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the rollover. She was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and suffered fatal injuries, being pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver, a 21-year-old woman from Pablo, also sustained injuries in the crash. She was transported to Pioneer Medical Center for medical treatment. Officials have not released additional details about her current condition as she continues to receive care.
Investigators with the Montana Highway Patrol say preliminary findings suggest that speed, alcohol, and/or drugs may have been contributing factors in the crash. However, they emphasized that these are early conclusions and that further testing and analysis are needed before any final determination is made.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the rollover, including roadway conditions and driver actions leading up to the crash. Officials say the investigation remains ongoing as they work to reconstruct the sequence of events that resulted in the fatal incident on Interstate 90.