Highway 84 crash takes life
Truck collision east of Norris shuts down highway for several hours
NORRIS – A stretch of the highway between Norris and Bozeman was shut down for several hours on Friday night, February 22, when a truck towing an oversized load of hay collided with a delivery vehicle, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
Just after 5 p.m., a westbound truck carrying the hay crossed the center line about seven miles east of Norris and tipped over.
The eastbound delivery truck then collided with the tipped vehicle. The two trucks blocked the highway, which was shut down by Montana Highway Patrol until the early hours of Saturday morning.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, along with Montana Highway Patrol, Ennis Ambulance and Gallatin County Emergency Services. The driver and passenger of the eastbound truck were transported to Bozeman Health Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver and only occupant of the westbound truck was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fatality victim was later identified as 32-year-old Randy Kevin Nielsen of Richmond, Utah.
Montana Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances of the crash, but no alcohol or drugs were thought to be involved.