Police Scoured for Person of Interest in Billings Crash. He’s Now Been Found

How the Day Unfolded

The Billings Police Department first announced the crash shortly after it happened around midday Wednesday, September 2, posting on social media that a fatal car crash had closed the parking lot serving a Panda Express and adjoining strip mall on Main Street. BPD said the closure was "expected to remain closed for an extended period of time" while investigators worked the scene, and it wasn't immediately clear how many people were killed or injured, or how many vehicles were involved. Businesses in the area remained open to foot traffic where safe, but police urged the public to avoid the area if they could.

By early afternoon, BPD clarified that officers were treating it as a fatal pedestrian crash, and released a photo of a person of interest, identified as Cody Aaron Thomas, asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact police dispatch and reference case number 26-057746.

By 5:15 PM the same day, BPD announced that Thomas had been found. The department stated plainly that no further information would be released.

What We Still Don't Know

As of this writing, several basic facts remain unconfirmed publicly: how many people were killed, whether more than one vehicle was involved, what Thomas's specific connection to the crash was, whether he has been arrested or charged, and what caused the crash in the first place. 

Montana law enforcement agencies routinely withhold these details in the early hours of an active investigation, particularly when a person of interest hasn't yet been located, but the near-total information blackout following Thomas's discovery is notable and suggests the investigation, or a related legal process, is still actively unfolding.

Why "Person of Interest" Matters

It's worth being precise about terminology here, since it carries real legal weight. A "person of interest" is not the same as a suspect or someone formally charged with a crime. It typically means police believe an individual has information relevant to an investigation, whether as a potential witness, someone who fled the scene, or someone whose role hasn't yet been determined. 

The fact that police sought public help in locating him, rather than simply investigating at the scene, suggests Thomas was not present when officers arrived, a detail consistent with, though not confirming, a possible hit-and-run scenario.

What This Means Going Forward

Until BPD releases additional details, either through a formal charge, an updated statement, or court records, the legal picture here remains genuinely unresolved. If this proves to be a hit-and-run, Montana law treats leaving the scene of a crash involving death or serious injury as a felony, carrying substantially harsher consequences than the underlying traffic violation alone. For any pedestrian victim's family, establishing whether the driver fled and why will be central to both the criminal case and any civil claim that follows.

If you or a family member has been injured or lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash, particularly one involving a driver who left the scene, the independent attorneys we connect you with can help you understand your legal options as details continue to emerge.

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