Man rear-ends parked semi on I-90, escapes serious injury

A Billings man survived a horrific collision on I-90 last Thursday when he drove his pickup truck into the back of a semi parked on the side of the road approximately one mile east of Columbus.
The impact split the pickup in half length-wise, completely tearing away the passenger side of the 2000 Chevrolet truck.
Steven Garcia, 51, was taken to the Stillwater Billings Clinic by ambulance, where he was treated and released, according to Columbus Fire Chief Rich Cowger.
The semi had broken down and the driver had managed to pull the cab and most of the trailer to the shoulder of the road and had already had a tow truck en route before the collision, said Montana Highway Patrol Capt. Keith Edgell.
The semi driver had activated his emergency flashers and set up fluorescent triangles alerting traffic to a small part of the trailer that remained on the road, according to Columbus Fire Rescue member Travis Hansen.
Information about why Garcia may have not seen the triangles and emergency flashers was not available by press time.
The accident was reported through a 911 call at 8:19 a.m. in which the caller said the westbound truck had rear-ended the back of the semi on the side of the road, creating “major blockage and debris all over both lanes,” according to Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office dispatch records. Initial reports were that Garcia had a serious head wound but was conscious and breathing.
At 8:33 a.m., the westbound driving lane was closed to allow fire and ambulance crews to work and that lane was reopened at 10:30 a.m., according to the Montana Department of Transportation.
The County Disaster Emergency Services coordinator was notified as approximately 25 gallons of fuel was spilled.
MHP, Columbus police, deputies and Columbus Fire Rescue all responded to the