Poplar Man Dies in Highway Crash Following Police Pursuit in Roosevelt County
A young man died in a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning, April 26, 2026, on US Highway 2 near Poplar.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. at mile marker 604, approximately eight miles west of Poplar. According to the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), the 18-year-old driver was operating a Ram pickup truck when a Fort Peck tribal officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop for allegedly failing to maintain his lane.
The driver fled, prompting a chase by law enforcement. During the pursuit, the pickup left the roadway and rolled several times before coming to rest in a ditch. The MHP report indicates that the driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene.
The identity of the deceased has not been released pending notification to next of kin. Authorities suspect alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
Emergency services responded, but details regarding tows and lane closures are not available at this time. The investigation is ongoing, according to the MHP.