Alan Dean Kief Killed in Lincoln Motorcycle Accident
Pickup truck driver turned into the path of the 70-year-old rider on Highway 200
Alan Dean Kief, 70, of Tacoma, Washington, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Highway 200 near Morris Drive in Lincoln, Montana, on July 15, according to the Lewis and Clark County Coroner's Office.
The eastbound bike collided with a westbound pickup truck after the truck driver attempted to turn south, crossing directly into the rider's path.
The 70-year-old man, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered blunt force injuries. Kief was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:25 p.m.
The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the collision.
An autopsy and toxicology tests are pending.
Why did the pickup truck turn into oncoming traffic on Highway 200?
While the Montana Highway Patrol continues to investigate the exact circumstances of the collision, authorities routinely conduct toxicology tests to determine if impairment played a role in fatal crashes.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Distracted driving threatens motorcycle safety when drivers of passenger vehicles miss seeing smaller riders on roadways. Inattention prevents motorist detection before dangerous lane changes or left-turn violations occur."
"Legal counsel experienced in motorcycle accident litigation preserves electronic data from involved vehicles and reviews cellular phone records carefully. Documentation helps injured families secure fair compensation when negligent driving causes serious injuries," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists remain heavily overrepresented in traffic safety data, accounting for approximately 15% to 16% of all traffic-related fatalities nationwide
How does suspected impairment affect a crash investigation?
Families of victims killed in preventable crashes often face significant emotional and financial burdens while waiting for official toxicology and crash reconstruction reports to be finalized.
In Montana, law enforcement agencies use specialized reconstruction teams to map crash scenes, analyze vehicle damage, and review toxicology results to establish a definitive sequence of events and determine liability.
Montana wrongful death claims
Under Montana law (Mont. Code Ann. § 27-1-513), the surviving family members or the personal representative of a deceased victim's estate may pursue a wrongful death action if the death was caused by the wrongful act or negligence of another. This civil process operates independently of any criminal proceedings or traffic citations issued by law enforcement.
Eligible damages in these cases typically include funeral and burial expenses, lost future income, and compensation for the loss of companionship and support. Families generally have three years from the date of the victim's death to file a wrongful death lawsuit under the state's statute of limitations.
"Official investigations sometimes reach conclusions quickly without fully exploring all evidence or considering alternative causation theories that families later need," noted Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.
"Surviving relatives benefit significantly when legal counsel commissions independent forensic reviews that challenge initial findings and develop thorough detailed documentation."