Probe continues into deadly Whitehall crash

By Justin Post - 08/29/2008

Police continue piecing together the events leading up to the fatal Saturday evening pickup truck crash along Interstate 90 near Whitehall.

The driver, 20-year-old Kelsey Ann Patterson of Butte, died in the single-vehicle accident. Two passengers were injured.

Both Patterson and 21-year-old Kevin Helfrich of Anaconda were ejected from the vehicle. Police declined to release the name of a 17-year-old passenger from Whitehall.

Both Helfrich and the 17-year-old were taken by ambulance to St. James Healthcare in Butte where they were treated and released, authorities said.

The Montana Highway Patrol is reviewing the accident and police believe speed and alcohol were involved in causing the wreck, said Capt. Gary Becker.

Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Francine Janik told The Montana Standard none of the people was wearing seat belts.

Patterson was ejected from the ½-ton Chevy pickup truck and it rolled on her. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

The truck was traveling westbound on Interstate 90 just before 7:30 p.m., one mile west of Whitehall when it drifted off the left side of the road, Becker said.

The driver overcorrected turning to the right, then to the left where the vehicle crossed the median into the eastbound lane and rolled into a fence on private property.

The accident raises the number of fatalities in Montana to 146 for the year, compared to 192 at this time last year.

— Justin Post, The Montana Standard