Man pleads not guilty in September car crash deaths

Tyrell Henderson, 26, of Box Elder, who is charged with killing two people when his vehicle crashed into an oncoming sedan Sept. 19, 2015, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Great Falls last Tuesday.

A Montana Highway Patrol press release from that weekend says Henderson was driving southbound on Laredo Road in Box Elder on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation when the Chevrolet Impala he was driving crossed the center line and hit an oncoming Pontiac sedan in the driver’s side door.

The Pontiac contained Rylin Fay Aleen Burns, 23, of Rocky Boy and Leandra Thomas, 26, of Hays.

Burns and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene. A third occupant of the Pontiac suffered minor injuries. Henderson also suffered injuries.

Trooper Zach Freeman of Montana Highway Patrol said MHP handled the crash because they have the equipment to handle fatal crashes.

Henderson is in federal custody. He is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Judge Brian Morris will enter a scheduling order.