The former head basketball coach for Butte High School was recently struck by a vehicle while going for a walk. The coach’s family members reported last Thursday morning that he had died from injuries he suffered in the collision.
Police say that they arrived on scene early Thursday morning just after the accident. It was the 76-year-old retired coach’s habit to go for early morning walks. Tragically, even though the man was wearing reflective clothing and he was walking in an area of the road reserved for parking, a female driver struck him head-on in a large, late model passenger vehicle.
The Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement Agency, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Montana State Division of Criminal Investigations are currently working together to carry out an investigation. Police do not believe that any problems with the road caused this unfortunate pedestrian collision. As police continue with their investigations, they have yet to indicate whether charges will be filed against the driver who hit him.
Every time an important member of the community gets killed, it will send shockwaves of sadness and feelings of loss through friends, co-workers and, in this case, students who knew and loved the individual who died. In this case, the man’s family members will, no doubt, want answers as to what may have led the driver to strike their loved one.
Depending on the evidence revealed by police investigations and other evidence following a fatal pedestrian accident, family members of the deceased may be able to pursue a wrongful death action. If successfully navigated, such an action could bring financial restitution to close relatives.
Source: Montana Standard, “Man who died after being hit by car identified as Dan Lean, former BHS coach,” Dec. 07, 2017