Polson teen dies in traffic crash near Pablo

An 18-year-old Polson man died in a one-vehicle traffic crash Saturday night near Pablo.

According to Montana Highway Patrol, a 2006 Ford Mustang was traveling south on Secondary Road 354 near mile marker 6 when it failed to negotiate a left-hand curve, drove off the right side of the road and hit a rock embankment. The car overturned before landing on its tires.

The crash was first reported just before 10:30 p.m. The man from Polson was a passenger in the car. He was wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two others were injured in the crash. A 19-year-old man from Ronan was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson, then to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. It was not known if he was wearing a seat belt.

Also, an 18-year-old man from St. Ignatius was injured and taken to St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan.

Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash. Investigators have yet to determine who was driving at the time of the crash.

Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and no identities had been released as of Monday morning.

Officials said it was the 14th traffic fatality in Montana in 2021.