Single vehicle accident kills one

DAYTON — A Dayton man died Thursday morning in a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 93.

Leroy Carlson, 43, was pronounced dead on-scene after the 1992 Toyota Tacoma, headed southbound, he was a passenger in left the roadway at mile marker 83.7, just north of Dayton, Montana Highway Patrolman Andy Horton said. Two men on their way to work noticed the vehicle in a field around 7 a.m. and called 911, Horton said.

“For unknown reasons, the driver crossed over the northbound lane of traffic, entered a ditch area on the east side of the highway and struck a Wild Horse Road sign,” Horton said. “The vehicle became airborne before re-contacting the ground and rolling several times, with the vehicle ending up on its wheels.”

Both men were ejected from the vehicle, Horton said, and Carlson died from trauma endured during the incident. The driver was airlifted to Kalispell Regional Medical Center before being flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Horton believed the driver sustained several fractures along his spine and broken ribs, but remained conscious. As of Friday morning, Horton did not know the medical status of the man.

“Both men were not wearing their seatbelts, but upon examination it appears both would have survived if they were wearing their seatbelts,” he said. “There was no reason anyone should have died in this accident.”

Speed doesn't appear to be a factor and it seems the driver did not overcorrect, Horton said.

“There were straight tracks and there were no signs of heavy breaking,” he said.

Lake County Deputy Coroner Rick Lenz said Carlson's body was sent to the medical examiner's office in Missoula for further examination.

It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved in the accident, and Horton said the investigation is ongoing.

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