Big Horn County Sheriff Darrell King was killed in a car wreck early Sunday evening on Highway 212, southeast of Crow Agency.
The accident happened just east of the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument, shortly after 5 p.m., according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
MHP reported that a commercial motor vehicle collided head-on with a passenger vehicle driven by King; it was not a Big Horn County vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene, MHP reported.
Speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation, according to MHP.
“I was saddened to hear of this recent tragedy and loss amongst the law enforcement community,” MHP Colonel Steve Lavin said in statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Sheriff King and the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.”
People are also reading…
Alvin Yarlot, King’s stepfather, struggled to put to words his shock and heartbreak at the news.
“I can’t find my voice,” he said.
U.S. Attorney for Montana, Jesse Laslovich, released a statement remembering King late Monday morning.
“I was saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Big Horn County Sheriff Darrell King, who was a key partner to our office and all of our federal law enforcement agencies,” Laslovich said. “On behalf of all of them, I offer our sincerest condolences to his family. His family should know that federal law enforcement held Sheriff King in the highest regard, and we will honor his legacy of kindness and diplomacy by working collaboratively with all of our partners to keep the people of Big Horn County and the Crow Tribe safe.”
The two vehicles struck each other head on and the wreck shutdown Highway 212, detouring traffic as far south as Sheridan, Wyoming.
Law enforcement vehicles with lights and sirens escort Big Horn County Sheriff Darrell King to the Montana crime lab in Billings. King was killed in a car wreck Sunday evening.
A procession of law enforcement vehicles accompanied the coroner as King’s body was transported to the state crime lab in Billings.
Along with statements from local law enforcement agencies, family and friends across the region posted remembrances across social media Monday morning.
“My office sends it’s condolences to the friends, family, and colleagues of Big Horn County Sheriff Darrell King. I had the pleasure of meeting him and he was a very kind man who wanted to make a difference in his community. Rest easy Sheriff, we have it from here,” the Daniels County Sheriff’s office posted on Facebook.
Friends set up a tribute page on Facebook for those who knew King to share memories.
“Darrell was an incredible person who touched so many different people’s lives. This page has been created so all the different people that knew Darrell can share stories, photos and videos. Everyday it seems that I remember another story that I would love to share; this page gives you the opportunity to share those stories with people that knew and loved him.”
– This story will be updated
#lee-rev-content { margin:0 -5px; }
#lee-rev-content h3 {
font-family: inherit!important;
font-weight: 700!important;
border-left: 8px solid var(–lee-blox-link-color);
text-indent: 7px;
font-size: 24px!important;
line-height: 24px;
}
#lee-rev-content .rc-provider {
font-family: inherit!important;
}
#lee-rev-content h4 {
line-height: 24px!important;
font-family: “serif-ds”,Times,”Times New Roman”,serif!important;
margin-top: 10px!important;
}
@media (max-width: 991px) {
#lee-rev-content h3 {
font-size: 18px!important;
line-height: 18px;
}
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article {
clear: both;
background-color: #fff;
color: #222;
background-position: bottom;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
padding: 15px 0 20px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
border-top: 4px solid rgba(0,0,0,.8);
border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.2);
display: none;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article,
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article p {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, “Segoe UI”, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, “Apple Color Emoji”, “Segoe UI Emoji”, “Segoe UI Symbol”;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article h2 {
font-size: 24px;
margin: 15px 0 5px 0;
font-family: “serif-ds”, Times, “Times New Roman”, serif;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article .lead {
margin-bottom: 5px;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article .email-desc {
font-size: 16px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-bottom: 5px;
opacity: 0.7;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article form {
padding: 10px 30px 5px 30px;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article .disclaimer {
opacity: 0.5;
margin-bottom: 0;
line-height: 100%;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article .disclaimer a {
color: #222;
text-decoration: underline;
}
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article .email-hammer {
border-bottom: 3px solid #222;
opacity: .5;
display: inline-block;
padding: 0 10px 5px 10px;
margin-bottom: -5px;
font-size: 16px;
}
@media (max-width: 991px) {
#pu-email-form-breaking-email-article form {
padding: 10px 0 5px 0;
}
}
.grecaptcha-badge { visibility: hidden; }