Thousands remain without power as Missoula cleans up after Monday windstorm - Helena Independent Record
Roman Zylawy responded to a series of crashes near Lookout Pass after a pair of trees in the median of I-90 were blown down, blocking the eastbound lanes about four miles from the Idaho border. Drivers who were in the right-hand lane were able to avoid the larger trunk of the tree, but still had undercarriage damage and broken wheels from hitting the end of the tree. “When he saw the tree, he tried to shift back and ended up sideswiping the semi,” Zylawy said. As the co-driver of the semi got out of the vehicle to set up hazard triangles to warn drivers, Zylawy said another car hit the tree, lost control, and hit the co-driver, then crashed into the back of the stationary truck. Minutes later, another vehicle that was passing traffic in the left lane crashed into the tree, and Zylawy said he may have run over the semi co-driver who had already been hit. They hit the tree pretty hard,” Zylawy said. The trooper said it took crews until 4 a. m. Tuesday to fully clear the road of trees, debris and vehicles. MISSOULA -- Neighborhoods silenced and darkened by Monday’s storm came to life early Tuesday, as Missoula residents dealt with toppled trees, blocked roads, crushed vehicles and downed power. Source: helenair.com
