Teen killed in Sunday morning pursuit
A Hungry Horse teenager is dead after a pursuit by Columbia Falls Police early Sunday morning. Pierce Norman Beach, 15, was killed when the Ford F-150 he was driving with two occupants went off River Road Junction near the South Fork of the Flathead River and struck a tree about 12:22 a.m., said Columbia Falls Police Chief Dave Perry.
Perry said patrolman Mike Johnson began pursuing the vehicle on U.S. Highway 2 in Columbia Falls because it didn’t have any rear taillights and was driving erratically. The truck fled, went down South Nucleus Avenue and then down 13th St. East back onto the highway.
Johnson continued his pursuit into the Canyon, reaching speeds of 90 mph. The truck made a hard left-hand turn onto the frontage road and went down the hill. At the bottom of the hill it failed to make the sharp left turn and struck tree.
Beach was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other two teens in the vehicle, an 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, were transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center by ambulance.
It was later discovered the truck was stolen, Perry said. Beach was not wearing a seatbelt.
Alcohol and road conditions were not a factor in the crash, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
Perry said he believed the chase met police protocols. He noted police break off high speed chases in the event of heavy traffic or human life at risk, but other law enforcement were not in the area at the time to continue to search for the vehicle.
When asked directly if the chase was warranted, he said, “I believe so. We haven’t reviewed all the facts.”