The Hill County Sheriff’s Office has identified Wendall V. Howard, 26, of Havre, as the man who died in a crash after a police pursuit in Havre early Sunday morning.
According to the Havre Police Department (HPD), at 3:55 a.m., an officer saw a reported stolen vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai Sonata from Rocky Boy, traveling in the 400 block of 14th Avenue.
The officer tried to stop the Hyundai, but the male driver sped off. Officers pursued the vehicle eastbound on Highway 2 and requested assistance from Hill County and Blaine County sheriff’s offices.
As officers approached Blaine County, they lost sight of the Hyundai and the pursuit was terminated, according to HPD.
However, a Havre police officer on the east end of Havre noticed the Hyundai traveling at a high rate of speed around 4:08 a.m.
The officer pursued the car, which was headed west on Highway 2. The officer was unable to catch the vehicle, according to HPD.
When the Hyundai approached the intersection of 1st Street and 14th Avenue, it collided with another vehicle.
Howard was identified as the driver of the stolen car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 20-year-old female passenger in the Hyundai was taken to the hospital.
The 29-year-old male driver of the other vehicle was also transported to Northern Montana Hospital.
The investigation was turned over to the Montana Highway Patrol.
(April 28, 2019) One person is dead following a police pursuit in Havre Sunday morning.
According to Montana Highway Patrol, Havre Police were chasing a stolen vehicle at 4:14 a.m. when it collided with another car.
The crash happened as the driver of the stolen vehicle was heading west at intersection of 1st Street and 14th Avenue in Havre and hit an eastbound vehicle.
The driver of the stolen car was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver and passenger of the second vehicle were injured.
Both were transported to Northern Montana Hospital.
MHP says road conditions were wet at the time of the crash. Speed was a factor and drugs and alcohol have not been ruled out.
