ENNIS — More details are emerging about the crash that left a Harrison boy dead Thursday night.
The 9-year-old boy (earlier reported as being 10) was killed after a semi truck was unable to avoid striking a pickup that was disabled after striking an elk near Ennis on Highway 287 at approximately 7:30 p.m.
According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Cody Ruane, the semi truck that struck the pickup was traveling under the posted speed limit, but the truck was fully loaded. The driver attempted to steer away from the pickup when he saw it, but according to Trooper Ruane, the vehicle does not brake or steer in evasive maneuvers rapidly.
Ruane said the pickup was disabled in the roadway and the boy was also in the roadway at the time of the crash.
The other two occupants of the pickup weren’t in the vehicle or injured by the crash, when the right corner of the semi hit the left corner of the pickup.
Ruane said speed and impairing substances are not factors in the incident.
The investigation is still ongoing.
