Car accident claims life of Troy woman

A 37-year-old Troy woman died and two others were injured Thursday evening in a Highway 2 accident one mile south of Troy.

Jennifer Smith died at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital from injuries related to the crash, according to a Montana Highway Patrol release. Scott Bushnell, 48, of Troy was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center to undergo treatment for a fractured hip, and Robert Gruber of Libby was treated at St. John’s for cuts and scrapes and a possible broken hand.

Smith and Bushnell, who were traveling north on Highway 56 in a 1987 Chevrolet S-20 pickup, ran a stop sign and hit Gruber’s 2006 Chevrolet pickup as he was driving west on Highway 2, according to MHP.

“The little S-10 pickup ran the stop sign going approximately 40 miles per hour, and they hit the other pickup nearly head on,” said Sgt. Duane Bowers of the Montana Highway Patrol. “We believe they were trying to take a left toward Troy.”

Smith and Bushnell were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle. Troy Volunteer Ambulance transported all three victims of the accident to St. John’s.

Who was driving the S-10 pickup and whether or not alcohol was a factor is still under investigation, said Bowers.