On the morning of Saturday, July 19, six young men from Denton were looking forward to playing basketball in a summer league tournament. They climbed inside the 2000 Buick LaSabre sedan that was to take them the 38 miles into Lewistown. It started out as just an ordinary trip down Hwy. 81 for a day of summer fun.

Within minutes, the day that had promised to be so enjoyable turned to tragedy. On a long, gradual bend in the highway near the Deerfield Hutterite Colony, the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle. In the aftermath of the following accident, three families struggle to come to grips with the devastating deaths of their young sons, and a Central Montana community reels from a common feeling of loss.

A press release from the Fergus County Coroner’s Office states, “…at approximately 10:15 hours on Highway 81, approximately 12 miles east of Denton… a one-vehicle accident claimed the lives of Jace E. Jelinek, 17, Dayne Heble, 14, and brothers Kale Phelps, 17, and Kade Phelps, 14, all of Denton. Jelinek, Heble and Kale Phelps died at the scene. Kade Phelps was transported to the Central Montana Medical Center in Lewistown where he died a short time later.”

According to Montana Highway Patrolman Scott Fox, none of the normal factors that routinely sum up the calculus of highway fatalities played a role that day.

“Alcohol was not a factor,” Fox said. “There is no indication of excessive speed – they were traveling within a realistic range of the posted speed limit. Seatbelt use was not a significant factor. Two of the victims who died were not wearing their seat belts, two of the victims had their seatbelts on.”

In short, there was nothing the boys were doing at the time that could be considered inappropriate or negligent.

“This was a relatively simple accident,” Fox continued, “it just resulted in a very devastating crash. The road there has a very gradual curve to the left. The driver went straight for a brief second and left the road surface. He then over-corrected and crossed both lanes of traffic. The vehicle then slipped sideways, impacted an up-slope and began to roll. It first impacted on its roof and crushed it down.”

Fox said the LaSabre the young men were riding in caught fire soon after the accident. He affirmed that all three young men who died at the scene were killed instantaneously. They died due to the impact of the crash and did not perish in the subsequent fire.

Two young men survived the accident that day. Because they are both just 14 years old, the MHP has declined to release their identities. According to Denton resident Rick Rice, who came upon the accident moments after it occurred, one was able to free himself from the wreckage under his own power. The other survivor’s life was saved when Rice climbed into the burning vehicle to free him from his seat belt. Both were treated at the hospital for their injuries and released.

Emergency response vehicles from throughout the area responded to the accident. The coroner’s press release listed Central Montana Medical Center Ambulance, Denton Ambulance and Fire, Hilger Fire, Lewistown Fire/Rescue, the Fergus County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and the Fergus County Coroner’s Office as all responding to the scene.

Dan Stahl, a member of the Hilger Rural Fire District that responded to the accident, commented on the number of accidents that routinely occur on that stretch of highway.

“Just from the top of the hill where the missile site is at, on one side of the colony, to the top of the hill where the other missile sits is about four miles,” Stahl said. “There’s been quite a few accidents on there – I think we’ve counted 17.”

Rice concurred with Stahl’s observation.
“It’s a bad stretch of road and it needs to be fixed,” he said.