Woman killed in pickup collision in downtown Billings

On Behalf of | Aug 23, 2021 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

Police departments usually exhaust every resource in attempting to determine the cause of a fatal accident and, if possible, to identify the driver whose negligence caused the accident. A recent fatal accident in downtown Billings demonstrates how difficult this task can become.

The collision

A Dodge Ram pickup truck was traveling west on First Avenue North when it was struck by another pickup truck, a Toyota Tundra. The Toyota was turning east into First Avenue from North 12th Street when it hit the Dodge. Media accounts of the collision have not identified which vehicle initiated the collision. The Billings police department deployed its crime investigation van to the scene for several hours.

Injuries

A nineteen year-old woman who was a passenger in the Dodge pickup was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries that she suffered. A male passenger in the Toyota was treated at a local hospital before being released.

Allegations of illegal conduct

Both drivers were arrested and incarcerated at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility after receiving treatment for their injuries. The driver of the Dodge Ram has been charged with three counts of felony criminal endangerment of another person. The driver of the Toyota faces the same three charges and an additional count of vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol or disabling drugs.

Liability

The facts released so far indicate that the driver of the Toyota was intoxicated and that he will bear the burden of liability for the young woman’s death and the injuries to the other driver and the other passenger.

What next?

Anyone who has suffered an injury or lost a loved one in similar circumstances may wish to explore the possibility of filing a claim for damages against the person or persons at fault. The advice of an experienced personal injury attorney can provide indispensable assistance in the form of an evaluation of the evidence and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical and funeral expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.

 

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