Accident east of Lincoln claims life of Washington man

An early morning accident on Highway 200 just east of the intersection with Highway 279 claimed the life of a passenger in a 2021 Peterbilt after the tractor and trailer went off the road Monday, Feb. 14. According to the Montana Highway Patrol report, the tractor and trailer drifted off the right side of the road and struck a guard rail. The driver, a 30-year-old man from Riverside Calif, overcorrected and crossed the highway.

The semi went off the road and down an embankment before striking trees and rolling onto its right side. The passenger, a 49 year old man from Washington was reportedly in the vehicle's sleeper cab and was fatally injured in the accident, dying of his injuries on the scene. Although the report indicated the vehicle was westbound on Highway 200, a visit to the accident scene indicated it may have actually been trav-eling eastbound.

The accident closed the westbound lane of Highway 200 at the scene for most of the day as J&D Recovery and Towing used two heavy wreckers to remove the semi and trailer from the roadside.