BONNER, MONTANA – Two Seeley Lake residents were killed in a head-on collision Sunday afternoon, Nov. 8 on Highway 200 just east of Bonner. Seventeen-year-old Isaac Morse and 18-year-old Damien Miner died at the scene. According to Highway Patrol Trooper Alex Hiday another 18-year-old male from Seeley Lake and the driver of the second vehicle, a 40-year-old female from Clinton, Montana, were transported to the hospital.
Around 1:40 p.m. on Sunday, a Honda Civic was traveling in the eastbound lane on Highway 200. According to Hiday, while taking a right hand curve at mile marker four, the driver lost control. The Honda entered the westbound lane and collided head-on with a Dodge Ram pickup, blocking the westbound lane.
Hiday said even though none of the occupants of the Honda Civic were wearing their seatbelts, none were ejected. Fire personnel extricated the three men from the vehicle. The driver and backseat passenger were dead when emergency personnel arrived. The front seat passenger was transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital with serious injuries.
The driver of the Dodge pickup was wearing her seat belt. Hiday said she was transported to St. Patrick’s Hospital for minor injuries.
Hiday said factors contributing to the crash included snow covered and icy roads, inexperienced driving and driving too fast for the conditions. Tires on the Honda Civic were also a factor. No criminal citations were issued or pending.
As a general word of caution to motorists Hiday said, “Drive for the conditions. If you lose control and go off the road, you were driving too fast for the conditions. Slow down, drive safe and wear your seatbelt.”
There was also a dog, named Auto, in the Honda Civic when the crash occurred. Friends of Morse, the dog’s owner, launched a search party Monday afternoon and Auto was found.
How you can help the families:
• There is a fundraiser on Facebook to pay for “Damien’s final resting expenses.” Visit https://www.facebook.com/donate/550859645778292/3509425109118543/
• Help support the Morse family through GoFundMe, https://gf.me/u/y77atb
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