Teen dies in weekend crash

An investigation into a fatal crash that left one teenager dead is ongoing, according to officials.

Adriana Johnson, 17, of Charlo, died as a result of her injuries Saturday, June 2, after a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy collided with her vehicle in Ronan, according to investigators.

Deputy Corey White has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, which is being conducted by the Montana Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff Don Bell stated in a press release Tuesday morning.

Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Chan Berry said that the crash occurred on U.S. 93 near mile marker 46 and Timberlane Road.

Public dispatch records show that the call for the crash is logged at 5:14 a.m.

White was driving southbound on the highway with emergency lights on as he headed to St. Ignatius to answer an emergency call, Berry said.

Johnson was the driver of a Jeep Wrangler, with one other 17-year-old female occupant. The Jeep was also headed southbound on U.S. 93 and appeared to pull over onto the right shoulder.

Berry then said that the Jeep executed a U-turn in front of White, who was driving a Dodge Charger, resulting in a T-bone collision.

Both occupants of the Jeep were not wearing a seatbelt and were ejected from the vehicle, Berry said.

Bell confirmed that the second occupant in the Jeep, along with the deputy, were transported to area hospitals and later released.

The Missoula County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death, Bell said.

Bell said that White has been with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office since October of 2017. Prior to that, White was a Ronan Police Department officer and the undersheriff of Golden Valley County in Montana.

A call to the Missoula Coroner’s Office was not immediately returned.