Woman killed after hitting deer identified

The 66-year-old Havre woman who died Oct. 6 after  hitting a deer on U.S. Highway 87 Friday evening has been identified as Annette Vander Ven.

Vander Ven died of blunt force trauma, Hill County coroner Jamie Ross said Wednesday.  

Vander Ven was driving a Toyota Rav4 northbound on U.S. 87 when she hit a deer, Montana Highway Patrol said in a statement. The deer she crashed into went through the windshield and hit her. She was transported to Northern Montana Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Highway Patrol received a call about the crash at 8:01 p.m. Friday and troopers arrived on the scene, near mile marker 97 on Highway 87, at 8:24 p.m.

VanderVen and her passenger, a 69-year-old man from Havre, were wearing their seat belts, MHP said. The passenger was not injured.

Speed, alcohol or drugs are not suspected factors in the crash. The road conditions were dry and the location of the impact is unknown.