FRENCHTOWN – A Frenchtown firefighter from Alberton is recovering from “traumatic injuries” he suffered while responding to a deadly five-semi truck crash in Mineral County on Wednesday and is said to be in “good spirits.”
Frenchtown Rural Fire District spokesman Mel Holtz said Kyle Rauch slipped on black ice and fell 40 feet over a bridge deck on Interstate 90 near Superior, rolling down a steep embankment.
Rauch was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery for a badly broken leg. He is expected to be released in the coming days. He’s a volunteer resident firefighter/EMT who has been with the FRFD for a year.
“We have received an overwhelming response from the community and partner agencies across the state,” Fire Chief Joe Calnan said. “We are happy the surgery went well and Kyle is recovering. We can’t express enough how appreciative we are for the support Kyle, his family and Frenchtown Fire has received these past few days.”
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Kyle and his family.
Two truck drivers — Vilyam Veresko, 30, of Moses Lake, WA and Jatinderpal Singh, 32, of Delta, BC — lost their lives in the accident with other drivers sustaining serious injuries.
The wreck closed the eastbound lanes of I-90 near Superior for 20 hours.
RELATED: Names of victims released in western Montana I-90 crash
