GALLATIN COUNTY, Montana -- A Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy died after he was injured while responding to a stranded motorist over the weekend.
Deputies Jake Allmendinger and Ryan Jern were responding in the same vehicle to a welfare check of a stranded motorist reported on Fairy Lake Road in the Bridger mountain range at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday during a storm which created icy roads, according to a news release.
As they were attempting to locate the motorist, their patrol vehicle began to slide backwards. At some point, Allmendinger exited the driver’s side of the vehicle and became trapped under the Chevy Tahoe. Jern attempted to save Allmendinger, but was unsuccessful.
Members of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, Montana Highway Patrol and Bridger Canyon Fire helped transport Allmendinger from the scene to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital.
Search and Rescue was able to later locate and assist the stranded motorist.
The 31-year-old deputy is survived by his parents Ron and Michelle Allmendinger, wife Monica, and children Bentley, Lexi and Kai. Allmendinger was a dispatcher with Gallatin County 911 for over seven years, a Search and Rescue volunteer for eight years and has been a deputy sheriff since 2017.
"We want to thank everyone for their support and condolences today." the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post. "It means a lot to know that our community has our back."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
