Havre Daily News/Daniel Horton, file photo

Cole Albus rides in the saddle bronc competition at the MSU-Northern Rodeo in Havre, Sept. 17. Albus died in a car crash Tuesday morning.

The Hi-Line and Montana State University-Northern lost a cowboy this week.

The Phillips County Coroner released the name of the only fatality of an accident early Tuesday morning, 19-year-old Hinsdale native Cole Albus.

Albus was driving a 2001 Ford F-350 north along Larb Creek Road, that runs toward Saco from the western tendrils of Fort Peck Reservoir. He and three occupants were not wearing seat belts and, according to the Montana Highway Patrol crash report, alcohol was involved.

At around 1:20 a. m. Tuesday, the driver lost control of the vehicle which ended up rolling one-and-a-half times, throwing everyone from the vehicle in the process.

Albus was pronounced dead on the scene. William Nelson, a 21-year-old from Saco, and Tande Smith, an 18-year-old from Gildford, were taken to the hospital in Malta, but later released.

Brady Johnson, an 18-year-old from Hinsdale, was taken to Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow and was released Tuesday.

Albus was a Montana State University-Northern freshman who rode saddle bronc for the rodeo team. The rodeo team had just finished a competition in Miles City over the weekend.

Officials from the Northern Athletic Department, including the rodeo team’s coach Troy Solomon and Athletic Director Mark Samson, were unavailable for comment on Albus’ death before deadline this morning.