By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A 60-year-old Helena man was pronounced dead after he was struck by a vehicle in the Laurel Lakes subdivision, according to the Helena Police Department.

Helena police Sgt. Chris Rollan said officers responded to a call of a traumatic injury on Laurel Lakes Drive, which is off South Shades Crest Road, shortly before 4 p.m. on Nov. 5.

When officers arrived on the scene, they assisted the Helena Fire Department in attempting to treat the victim, who was pronounced deceased a short time later, Rollan said.

Rollan said the victim, whose name has not been released pending notification of his family, was performing yard work in the neighborhood when he was struck.

Rollan said the driver was not intoxicated “in any way,” and said no criminal charges are expected as a result of the incident.

“The exact speed is yet to be determined, but we don’t believe speeding to be a factor in this,” Rollan said. “It was just a tragic accident.”

At about 9:45 p.m. on Nov. 5, Rollan issued the following account of the incident:

“Today we responded to the Laurel Lakes subdivision on a fatal accident involving a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. It is believed that the victim was using a backpack leaf blower, standing in the roadway, with his back towards the traffic lanes when he was struck.”