Fiery wreck claims life

Hungry Horse News

A person died in a fiery wreck near mile marker 164 on U.S. Highway 2 Saturday afternoon. Coram-West Glacier Fire chief Walter Tabb said the vehicle was a pickup truck that had gone off the highway into the trees.

The occupant died in the fire. Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said the accident is still under investigation. Ellen Keesling, who took a photo of the vehicle, said the accident happened about 3:35 p.m.

Montana Highway Patrol said the age, sex and address of the driver could not immediately be determined. The body was taken to the Montana State Crime Lab for further analysis.

The rig, a Toyota Tacoma, was northbound and failed to make a left hand turn and went into the trees, striking one head-on.

Separately, a motorcycle was involved in a crash on River Road Sunday evening. It also caught on fire. Bad Rock Fire Department responded to the accident about 9:46 p.m. assistant chief Dylan Maddalena said.

A Columbia Falls Police Officer was able to put out the burning motorcycle with a fire extinguisher.

The driver was taken to the hospital by Three Rivers EMS. The accident happened on the curvy section of the road near the river.