HELENA – More details have emerged regarding the death of a teenage girl from Missoula, who was hit by a vehicle on Interstate 15 in Helena on Monday afternoon.
The collision happened about a half mile south of Capitol Interchange on I-15 near Shodair Children’s Hospital just before 2:30 p.m.
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton identified the victim as 15-year-old Kayla Neal from Missoula.
Shodair Children’s Hospital has confirmed she was a patient at the facility.
In a press release, hospital staff stated she broke a fire alarm, which caused the building locks to open. She then ran from the hospital.
Helena Police Chief Steve Hagan said Neal then walked onto the southbound lanes of I-15 and was struck by a woman driving a Dodge truck.
Several agencies responded including the Helena Fire Department, St. Peter’s Health, the Helena Police Department, and the Montana Highway Patrol.
You can read the entire statement from Alana Listoe, Director Of Community Relations at Shodair Children’s Hospital, below:
“There was a tragic accident on the Interstate near Shodair this afternoon.
At around 2:30 p.m., a Shodair patient broke the fire alarm, which caused the hospital locks to open. The patient ran from the building and onto the Interstate and was hit by a vehicle.
The patient did not survive.
Administration at Shodair is cooperating with officials and providing support to staff, patients and families. Our condolences go out to the families impacted.”
