The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office has identified the two men killed in Thursday morning’s three-vehicle crash near Somers.
John R. Bradstreet, 61, of Kalispell and Michael B. Berman, 73, of Somers were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that took place shortly before 9 a.m. on U.S. Highway 93 near mile marker 101.
According to Sheriff Chuck Curry and the Montana Highway Patrol, Bradstreet was driving north in a pickup truck when he hit the right-side guardrail and then went into the southbound lane, hitting the vehicle Berman was driving head-on. A third vehicle was unable to avoid the wreck and ended up in the ditch, but the driver suffered only minor injuries.
According to Trooper Rick Mehring, a witness said they saw Bradstreet swerving all over the road right before the accident but it is too early to know if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol or having a medical issue.
U.S. Highway 93 was closed for three hours following the accident and, according to the Montana Department of Transportation, it will be closed again today so MHP can continue its investigation. From 1:30 to 4 p.m., traffic will be detoured on North Juniper Bay Road. Wide loads will be escorted by a pilot car.