Ronan man dies after being struck by vehicle

Law enforcement officers responded to Timberlane Road about 1.5 miles from Highway 93 near Ronan at 9:35 a.m. Friday, March 22, for the report of a shirtless man, acting erratically, and waving around a rifle on the roadway in traffic, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell.

Prior to the arrival of law enforcement, another caller reported they had struck the male with their vehicle and that the male had pointed his rifle at them prior to him being struck. Responding officers found the male unresponsive but alive, and he was transported to a local emergency room by ambulance. It was discovered that the rifle the male had was not a real firearm, but was a very realistic looking air soft gun.

The male, identified as 35-year-old Aaron Thiel, of Ronan, was airlifted to a Missoula hospital where he died on Saturday, March 23.

The Lake County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol are investigating, and the deceased has been transported to the Montana State Crime Lab for autopsy.