Bus gets stuck in Flathead River at Blankenship

The Forest Service and Flathead County Sheriff’s Department responded to a bus stuck in the Flathead River at the Blankenship Bridge Tuesday afternoon.

The bus was apparently trying to get on a gravel bar where people camp for free along the river, but the driver went too far out in the water and became stuck. He was not injured. His name was not immediately available.

The water came up to the underbelly of the bus.

No fuel leaked into the waterway, according to MJ Crandall, recreational specialist with the Forest Service. He said the Blankenship Fire Department had responded to the scene to check to see if the bus was leaking fuel in the river.

The free dispersed camp has been a point of controversy after more than 50 campers a night camped at the undeveloped site last summer.

Neighbors petitioned the Flathead National Forest, which owns the land, to make the area a day use only site. They cited the threat of wildfires, noise from the camp and pollution into the river as reasons for their request.

More than 200 people signed the petition earlier this year, but Forest Supervisor Kurt Steele decided to continue to allow free camping there at least through this summer.

It wasn’t entirely clear how the driver of the bus intended to get the rig out of the river, but Crandall said the driver had a plan in place and the Forest Service would be checking to make sure it was removed promptly.

Crandall declined to comment on what charges the bus driver could face.

Motorized use is allowed on the site, Crandall noted, but the main access area is currently flooded due to runoff from the river.

The bus was later removed and was no longer in the river as of Wednesday morning.