Troy woman dies in crash

A 49-year-old Troy woman was killed Tuesday night in a head-on crash with a plow truck on Highway 200 west of Trout Creek.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Duane Bowers, Charlene K. Boren was a passenger in an eastbound 2004 Kia Sedona minivan driven by Robert M. Boren, 46, also from Troy.

The other vehicle involved in the crash was a westbound Montana Department of Transportation plow truck driven by Joel E. King, 54, of Noxon. King was de-icing the roadway with the plow in the raised position, Bowers said. The road was wet with no ice.

Near mile marker 26 west of Trout Creek, Robert Boren swerved to avoid a deer and drove into the path of the snowplow, Bowers said. His van hit the deer and then the snowplow head-on.

Charlene Boren was pronounced dead at the scene. Robert Boren was transported to a hospital in Idaho, where he is in critical condition, Bowers said.

Both were wearing seatbelts, and alcohol does not appear to be a factor, Bowers said.

The driver of the snowplow was not injured.

The crash raises Montana's fatal count to 246 in 2006.

The accident is being investigated by Bowers and MHP Trooper Keith Danhof.