Winter Weather — Lower Clark Fork Region, Montana

2018-12-19 to 2018-12-20 · Lower Clark Fork Region, Montana

Event narrative

A little bit before 4 am MDT, five semi-tractor trailers and one SUV crashed into each other at the bridge near the Quartz Flat Campground on Interstate 90 due to icy road conditions. As a result, two men in their 30s passed away while three other men were injured. The road conditions were labeled as very icy. The guardrails were damaged so much that the Montana Department of Transportation had to close the eastbound lanes for 20 hours after the incident.

Wider weather episode

Slippery road conditions from black ice contributed to a multi-vehicle accident that resulted in two fatalities and three injuries near Superior.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 794225. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.