Fatalities Up In State For 2021

The amount of fatality crashes in Montana was higher than in 2019 or 2020, according to a report from the Montana Highway Patrol.

There were 240 fatalities in the state during 2021 that number compares to 213 in 2020 and 184 in 2019.

Of those 240 deaths, 56 came on the interstate, 74 occurred on primary roads, 46 happened on rural roads, 29 came on secondary roads and 35 occurred on urban roads.

A total of 165 of the fatalities were one vehicle crashes. Speed was suspected in 95 of the crashes. Alcohol was suspected in 86 of the crashes and drugs were suspected in 46 of the crashes.

Seat belts were not in used in 122 of the fatalities.

Of the crashes, 24 involved motorcycles, 12 involved pedestrians, five involved ATVs and two involved bicycles.

District 5, which includes Roosevelt County and has its office in Glendive, had 22 deaths. That figures compares to 26 in 2019 and 23 in 2020. Of the deaths in district 5, four came on the interstate, nine occurred on primary roads, eight on rural roads and one on a secondary road.

District 4, which includes Billings, topped all districts with 46 fatalities.

The area with the largest increase was district 1, which includes Missoula, which went from 24 fatalities in 2020 to 37 fatalities during 2021.