Two Flathead Valley residents died in separate accidents in Evergreen on July 16.
An 81-year-old Kalispell woman, later identified by Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino as Florence Huntley, died after a crash with a truck and trailer along U.S. Highway 2 in Evergreen on the morning of July 16.
According to the Montana Highway Patrol (MHP), a dump truck hauling an excavator, driven by a man from Proctor, was traveling east along Highway 2 when Huntley attempted to turn left from Sager Lane onto the highway. The truck struck the vehicle on the driver’s side at the intersection.
The accident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. near the junction of Highway 2 and Montana Highway 35.
Later in the day, a 41-year-old Columbia Falls man, identified on Monday as Bradly Nieves, died in a motorcycle crash also along Highway 2 in Evergreen.
A MHP press release stated that the man was driving his motorcycle northbound on Highway 2 when another vehicle, driven by a Eureka resident, attempted to cross the highway and clipped the front of the motorcycle.
The accident occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 2 and Cottonwood Drive. The motorcycle rider was thrown from the impact and died at the scene following serious head trauma.
There was no suspicion of alcohol, drugs or excessive speed involved in either accident. Both crashes remain under investigation by MHP
This article has been updated with names.