BREAKING NEWS Local trooper dies in canal
MHP Trooper Chris Hoyt, second from left, drowned on Sunday after trying to rescue his dog from a canal south of Polson.
Montana Highway Trooper Chris Hoyt, 41, of Polson died on Sunday afternoon after being pulled from an irrigation canal. According to a press release from Sheriff Lucky Larson, Hoyt went into the canal, just south of Polson, to retreive his dog from the water.
He was not on duty at the time of the incident.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office received a call at 11:13 a.m. that Hoyt needed assistance in the canal. On scene, deputies recovered Hoyt from the water.
Hoyt was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:12 p.m.
Hoyt served with the Montana Highway Patrol for six and a half years and a lifelong member of the Polson community.