Man killed in head-on crash on Highway 2 in front of WBC

A man was killed after colliding with a Border Patrol vehicle head-on on Highway 2 in front of Western Building Center Tuesday (Oct. 8) evening in Columbia Falls.

A pickup truck was westbound in the center lane when it apparently drifted over into the eastbound lane and struck the Border Patrol vehicle, killing the driver of the pickup truck, who was identified as Nicholas E. Copper, 66.

The crash remains under investigation by the Columbia Falls Police Department, with assistance by the Montana Highway Patrol, which used a drone to examine the crash site, said Columbia Falls Police Chief Chad Stephens. He said police are awaiting autopsy results to determine whether drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.

This story has been updated to include the name of the deceased.