CLINTON, Mont., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A passenger bus slid off an ice-slickened highway and crashed in Montana Sunday, killing at least two people and leaving 33 others injured, authorities said.
Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Greg Watson said the Rimrock Trailways bus left Interstate 90 about 7:15 a.m. near Clinton, rolled and landed on its side in the median. The bus was en route from Billings to Missoula.
Road conditions at the time were described as extremely treacherous, which made it difficult for emergency crews to reach the accident scene, The (Missoula) Missoulian reported.
There were 35 people on board the bus. Authorities said a dozen people were taken to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, some with serious injuries. Another 21 went to the city's Community Medical Center, none with life-threatening injuries.
Dan Ronan, senior director of communications for the American Bus Association who was acting as a spokesman for Rimrock Stages, said the 53-year-old driver was among the survivors. The driver's name wasn't released but Ronan said he has "a good safety record."
"He is a solid driver, with no issues of reliability," Ronan told The Missoulian.
Ronan said the driver told company officials he was traveling at 65 mph at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit is 75 mph on that stretch of road.
Other accidents also were reported on I-90 and police closed the highway while the accidents were cleared.
KTVQ-TV, Missoula, reported Rimrock Trailways Vice President Eric Foreth issued a statement offering "condolences to the families of those passengers who lost their lives and those that were injured."
"Rimrock Trailways is doing all it can to assist our passengers, who were hospitalized, need other travel connections and have been inconvenienced by this accident," he said. "Rimrock Trailways will cooperate with local, state and federal authorities during the investigation as they look to find the cause of this accident."
