8 children involved in wreck
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ST. IGNATIUS – Eight children and their driver were taken to the hospital on Wednesday, Feb. 27, following a three-vehicle accident that occurred outside of St. Ignatius near Post Creek Hill, McDonald Lake Road and mile marker 39.2.
“They are all young children,” said Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Noah Pesola. “They had some cuts and bruises, but there were no life-threatening injuries.”
He said the wreck, which occurred on slick road conditions, happened at about 4 p.m. A dump truck was heading south on slippery roads when the driver lost control of the vehicle and entered the northbound lane, striking a sports utility vehicle. The SUV went into the ditch.
“The weather was definitely a contributing factor for the loss of control,” Pesola said.
A school transport vehicle then hit the dump truck. The school vehicle was carrying eight children from the Nkwusm language school located in Arlee. Local ambulance crews transported the kids and the driver to the hospital. The drivers of the dump truck and the SUV were not taken to the hospital.
It took about two hours to clean up the highway and open it back up. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that traffic was diverted during that time.
Nkwusm sent out a public notice on Thursday saying most of the children were back home. Two children were being held in the hospital overnight. The school was closed for the day.
