Interstate 15 between Montana City and Clancy reopened to traffic in both directions Monday afternoon after it was shut down for several hours due to a crash and vehicle fire.
According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Griffin Sutherland, a passenger vehicle was traveling north when the driver lost control and struck a semi hauling two tankers of diesel fuel.
The crash caused the semi to cross the median and its secondary trailer to roll on to its side and and block both lanes of traffic. The passenger car came to rest in the median and caught fire.
Trooper Sutherland said the trailer began to leak diesel fuel and the interstate was closed due to blockage and the proximity of the fuel to the fire.
Neither the passenger car driver or the semi driver were seriously injured in the incident, according to the MHP.
(1st Report, 9:15 a.m.) The Montana Department of Transportation has closed both north and southbound lanes of Interstate 15 south of Helena due to a crash.
According to the MDT travel and weather information page, a semi crash and vehicle fire have blocked the northbound lanes.
Traffic is being detoured on to the frontage road at Exit 182 northbound and Exit 187 southbound.
MTN has a reporter on the way and will update you when more information is available.
