Powell County, MT — December 23, 2025, three people were killed in a truck accident on eastbound Interstate 90 east of Drummond.

Authorities said a Hyundai Elantra was heading west when it lost control on the icy highway and spun across the median before it was hit by a semi-truck.

All three people in the Hyundai — a 40-year-old Missoula woman, a 31-year-old Marion man and a 9-year-old boy — were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities.

The truck driver was not injured, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Powell County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a crash where a car spins out and is then hit by an 18-wheeler, they often assume it was just a weather-related crash, something that couldn’t be helped. But that kind of assumption can obscure some very important questions. How exactly did this happen? Was it really unavoidable? And most importantly, did everyone involved do everything they could to prevent it?

Right now, the only thing we know for sure is that a passenger car lost control on icy roads and ended up in the path of a semi-truck. But that alone doesn’t tell us who, if anyone, might bear legal responsibility. Depending on the details, multiple parties could be involved, or none at all.

One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether the truck was already approaching when the car entered the median, or if it came upon the car unexpectedly. If the truck was far enough away to stop or swerve, that’s one scenario. If it happened too fast for any reaction, that’s another. Either way, dash cam footage and engine control module (black box) data can help reconstruct the timeline: how fast the truck was going, whether the driver braked or changed lanes and how quickly events unfolded.

There’s also the matter of road conditions. If ice played a role, we’d want to know whether the trucker adjusted their speed to match the conditions. I’ve handled cases where drivers failed to slow down in poor weather, and when that happens, a crash can be as much about poor judgment as it is about bad luck.

Another line of inquiry worth pursuing is the driver’s training and the company’s oversight. Was this an experienced driver? Had they been involved in prior incidents? What hiring practices does the trucking company follow to make sure its drivers can handle winter driving? These aren’t abstract questions. They’re the kind of issues that often come up when the facts don’t quite line up with the assumption that “nobody could’ve prevented it.”

Let me be clear: I’m not saying the truck driver did anything wrong. But right now, we simply don’t have enough information to say either way. That’s why it’s so important to get the facts through a detailed, independent investigation. Not just the police report, but phone records, in-cab video, maintenance logs, hiring files; evidence that gives a complete picture.

Only then can we know if this was truly an unavoidable accident or if someone made a decision, or failed to make one, that cost three people their lives.

Key Takeaways:

• It's still unclear whether the truck had time to react or if the crash happened too quickly to avoid.
• Dash cam and black box data can clarify vehicle speeds, braking and driver behavior.
• Weather conditions raise questions about whether the trucker adjusted appropriately.
• Company policies and driver training may also be relevant, depending on what the investigation reveals.
• Getting to the truth requires more than a police report. It takes a full evidence-based investigation.