Billings Woman Killed in Highway 310 Crash Identified as Former Police Employee

A woman killed in a two-vehicle crash near Rockvale on Monday morning has been identified as 45-year-old Rawlyn Strizich, a former evidence clerk with the Billings Police Department.

Officials Release Timeline and Details of the Crash

The crash was reported around 8:15 a.m. on October 20 along Highway 310 near mile marker 41. The Montana Highway Patrol says Strizich was driving a Ford Fusion southbound when her vehicle drifted into the northbound lane, colliding head on with a Kenworth truck.

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One Driver Killed, Another Suffers Minor Injuries

Investigators told KTVQ News that Strizich was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. She was taken to a Billings hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The driver of the truck, a 67-year-old man from Bridger, sustained minor injuries in the collision.

Montana Seatbelt Statistics Highlight Ongoing Safety Concerns

According to the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, only about 75.2% of Montana adults say they always wear a seatbelt. In the Billings area, observational surveys from 2022 found that only 60.2% of drivers and 50.3% of passengers were wearing seatbelts. Among vehicle occupants ejected in fatal crashes statewide in 2020, 92% were not restrained.

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Seatbelt Use Required in Montana, but Enforcement Remains Limited

Under Montana law (MCA §61-13-103), all vehicle occupants are required to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt unless they meet certain exemptions. However, the state operates under a secondary enforcement law, meaning law enforcement officers cannot pull a driver over solely for not wearing a seatbelt, they must first observe another traffic violation before issuing a citation. According to the Montana Department of Transportation, the fine for failing to buckle up is typically $20, and it is not considered a moving violation or a misdemeanor offense.