Wednesday, Dec. 9, at approximately 10 a.m. a three-car collision occurred several miles East of Plains on Highway 200.

According to Sander’s County Coroner Dan Bates, the driver of the Pacifica, 30 year-old Plains resident Shannon Johnson, was airlifted to St. Pat’s Hospital in Missoula and was killed as a result of injuries sustained during the collision. Johnson was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the accident.

Although the collision is still under investigation, Montana Highway Patrol officer Darlene Lee According to believes alcohol was not a factor, but speed and icy road conditions did contribute to the incident.

The accident occurred when, the driver of a Ford passenger van traveling eastbound, down hill on a left curve, lost control and the vehicle started to fish tail. The van was turned broadside when a westbound Chrysler Pacifica, which was traveling on a straight level stretch of road coming into the curve, struck the van, behind the driver side door.

The Pacifica was then hit by another car, a Ford Explorer, which had come upon the crash. The second collision however, is not believed to be a contributing factor to the fatality.

Both lanes of traffic were blocked for approximately thirty minutes as rescue workers from the Plains Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol and Plains-Paradise Rural Fire Department removed passengers and vehicles from the scene.

A memorial service was held for Johnson on Monday, Dec. 13 at Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort.