One Dead, One Injured After Fleeing Driver Crashes Into Home on Lake Helena Drive

East HELENA, MT — A late-night police pursuit ended in tragedy Saturday when a vehicle crashed into a residence, killing one person and injuring another, according to authorities.

The incident occurred around 11:23 p.m. when officers attempted to stop an Audi A7 driven by a 52-year-old man. The driver fled from police along Lake Helena Drive, continuing at high speed before failing to navigate a T-intersection. The vehicle went straight through the intersection, plowed through a fence, and collided directly with a home.

Investigators say the Audi entered a bedroom where two residents were. A 69-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries in the crash. A 76-year-old man, also in the room at the time, was injured and transported for medical care. His condition has not been released.

Authorities report that drugs and alcohol are suspected to have been contributing factors.

Statement issued by Montana Highway Patrol:

On Saturday, just after 11pm, troopers initiated a traffic stop on a suspect vehicle for possible DUI. Initially, the vehicle stopped, and a passenger exited the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle then fled, heading southbound on Lake Helena Drive. MHP troopers initiated a brief pursuit. Shortly after the pursuit began, the vehicle failed to negotiate the intersection at Lake Helena Dr. and East Old Highway 12, left the roadway, and crashed into a home, killing an occupant of the home and injuring another. The suspect was apprehended and transported to the hospital with injuries. The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in the investigation. Pending the results of the investigation, the case will be turned over to the county attorney's office for charges. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim's family after this tragic loss.

Deciding whether to pursue a motor vehicle is among the most critical decisions made by troopers. It is a decision that must be made quickly and under difficult, often unpredictable circumstances. The safety of Montanans and the traveling public is always the top priority for troopers when engaging in a pursuit.