Teen struck and killed by car

A Columbia Falls 15-year-old girl was killed Thursday (May 20) night after being struck by a car while walking down Tamarack Lane north of Columbia Falls.

The teen was later identified as Brooke Hanson.

According to Montana Highway Patrol and court documents, Hanson was westbound on the edge of the road about 9:40 p.m. at the intersection of Tamarack and 12th Avenue West North when a westbound Chrysler Town and Country driven by Jessica Adena Farbstein, 37, of Whitefish allegedly struck the teen on the left side.

The girl was thrown into the ditch by the impact and Farbstein was later apprehended by police in Whitefish.
Hanson later died at Logan Health Hospital in Kalispell from her injuries.

According to court documents, Farbstein allegedly told Whitefish Police officer Chris Duke that she hit a mailbox, but then asked, “did I hit a person?”

Duke then gave Farbstein a field sobriety test where she “exhibited slow, slurred speech and glossy eyes, and her breath emitted the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage.”

Farbstein also consented to a blood test.

She was taken into custody and later charged with felony vehicular homicide while under the influence and booked into the Flathead County Detention Center.

Farbstein’s arraignment is scheduled for June 17 in Flathead County District Court at 9 a.m.

Services for Hanson are at the Bible Baptist Church, 63 Dove Lane in Kalispell at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, with a potluck lunch to follow.

This story has been updated to reflect the name of the driver and the victim as well as other details.