St. Ignatius woman dies in Ravalli County crash

A 30-year-old St. Ignatius woman died and four others in the vehicle were taken to area hospitals after a one-vehicle traffic accident Tuesday evening near Stevensville in Ravalli County.

According to Montana Highway Patrol, a 37-year-old St. Ignatius man was driving a Dodge Dakota north on Montana 203, also known as El Capitan Loop, when he looked at a passenger and began to veer to the left toward oncoming traffic.

The driver over-corrected and went off the right side of the road and entered a burrow pit, according to Trooper Pat Heaney. After traveling about 200 feet, the vehicle rolled and the 30-year-old woman was partially ejected. Also, an 8-year-old girl was fully ejected from the vehicle.

The 30-year-old woman was taken to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, where she died from injuries she suffered in the crash.

The driver of the vehicle and a 7-year-old passenger, also of St. Ignatius, also were taken to St. Patrick Hospital.

Two other passengers, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old, both from St. Ignatius, were taken to Missoula Community Hospital.

None of the people in the vehicle were wearing seat belts.

Authorities do not believe drugs, alcohol or speed were factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.

The fatality was the 154th on Montana roads in 2021.