A 19-year-old Helena man died Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle collision outside of Three Forks.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, Joseph Michael McKeon was driving a 1999 Ford Ranger near mile-marker 271 on Interstate 90 when he lost control at 1:25 p.m.

His truck drifted off the south side of the interstate, crossed the median, and collided with an east-bound semi.

McKeon died at the scene, according to the report. Jefferson County Assistant Coroner Dave Kosola said the exact cause of death is still under investigation.

A passenger in his truck, an 18-year-old woman, and the driver of the semi, a 57-year-old man, were both transported to Deaconess Hospital in Bozeman. Their names have not been released.

All three were wearing seat belts, according to investigators.

The Highway Patrol said speed and winter road conditions were a factor in the crash, though alcohol wasn’t involved.

Investigators said McKeon was a University of Montana student and was returning to Missoula after attending the UM-MSU football game over the weekend.

He was also a Helena native who spent a good part of his life in the swimming pool as a member of the Helena High swim team for four years and of the Helena Lions several years before that.

But what swim coach Kirk Ermels will remember most about McKeon is not necessarily what he accomplished in the water, but the kind of leader he was outside of the pool as team captain.

“His willingness to take younger kids under his wing was just incredible,” Ermels said. “Joey was just a great kid, the type of kid who was friends with everyone on the team and everyone looked up to him.”

McKeon’s dedication and work ethic was unmatched. Last year, he set a goal for himself to swim in the 100 backstroke finals at the state meet in Great Falls. McKeon achieved not only that during his senior year, but also made the consolation finals in the 200 freestyle. It was his first year placing in two separate events at state.

“He was just consistent,” Ermels said. “It wasn’t anything spectacular that stood out, just that I could always count on him to do whatever needed to be done.”

Helena junior Basil Whaley knew McKeon since the sixth grade. The teens worked together as life guards at Last Chance Splash Park.

“He was a real funny kid, always could make me laugh,” Whaley said. “But he was also always able to get us going.”

Whaley raced against his friend a number of times, and before each race he and McKeon had a ritual, a handshake they contrived that they’d do at every meet. Whaley said McKeon made him want to be a better swimmer.

“He gave me something to chase after,” Whaley said.

Stephen Butkay, a senior at Helena High, said although McKeon was just a year older he always seemed so much more mature.

“Joey was the kind of kid I lookd up to,” Butkay said. “He knew how to make people feel good ... he was the life of the party. He was an amazing athlete and he was always focused on doing his best.”

Butkay said he will remember McKeon first and foremost as a role model.

“I’m really trying to be like him,” Butkay said. “Being like him would make anybody a better person.”