Late-night highway scare in Montana prompts safety warning

MONTANA — A woman is sharing what she said happened on a rural highway after another driver appeared to block her and follow her late at night.

Holly Pierce said the encounter happened when there was no cell service and very few other drivers nearby. She said she kept going and eventually put some distance between her vehicle and the other one.

Pierce described the moment the situation changed.

“All of a sudden they were right in front of us and stopped dead in the road in the middle of the two lane highway. I mean, it was as soon as I got right next to him, they got it. And briefly, I mean, for a couple of miles at least, we were just side by side. My heart didn't slow down for like a half an hour. It was awful. I was just like shaking,” Pierce said.

Montana Highway Patrol District 2 Captain Josef Kinsey explained what drivers should do if someone on the road is acting aggressively.

“If you do have a person speeding, really aggressive, just try to avoid that eye contact with them. Keep the windows up, doors locked. If you're being followed, just keep driving until you come to a public place that you can safely pull over a business or even a farm or a ranch house where you can pull in and then report the incident as soon as possible,” Kinsey said.

Troopers warned drivers not to make the situation worse by trying to confront or outrun an aggressive driver. They said people should report the incident as soon as possible and share any details they can safely gather.

Pierce said she now wishes she had reported what happened. She said she hopes others learn from her experience and trust their instincts on the road.