Fatal Accident

UPDATED: Man in custody for fatal hit and run motorcycle crash in Laurel

Posted: Jun 9, 2012 4:18 PM by Q2 Staff
Updated: Jun 9, 2012 4:18 PM

UPDATED: Laurel Police say a man is behind bars and facing several charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of an accident where someone was killed after a fatal crash in Laurel Saturday morning. Tanner Reichert, 22, is custody at the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.

Authorities located a vehicle, believed to be involved in the fatal wreck, Saturday morning on Grizzly Trail in Laurel. The vehicle was impounded and will be searched. A short time later, the Laurel Police Department received a call from the detention facility that Reichert wanted to turn himself in for a hit and run crash.

A Laurel officer interviewed Reichert at the jail. Reichert was then charged him with vehicular homicide, felony tampering with evidence, felony failure to remain at an accident scene where a person is seriously injured or killed and seatbelt violation.

BILLINGS - A Billings man is dead after a motorcycle crash in Laurel. The crash was reported to authorities just before 1 am Saturday, but the exact time of the crash is unknown.

The motorcyclist, 40, was found unresponsive and without a pulseon Old Highway East near East Marylane Ln. Laurel Police say emergency responders tried to resuscitate the man, but were unable to. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim's name has not been revealed until family members are notified.

At this time, the Laurel Police Department is looking for the driver of a vehicle believed to be involved in the crash. Laurel Police say the driver of a silver 2003 Honda Accord fled the scene before officers arrived.

The crash is under investigation, but police believe excessive speed is a factor in the fatal crash. The speed limit on Highway 10 is 60 miles per hour.

Additionally, traffic was detoured for three hours early Saturday morning while officers were on the scene investigating the fatal crash. A male driver nearly struck a Laurel officer who was directing traffic. That driver is suspected of driving under the influence.

Stay with Q2 for more on this developing.