Page 27 - Flathead Beacon // 8.13.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS AUGUST 13, 2014 | 27 The Roundup
From Beacon wire and news services
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WOMAN DIES IN CRASH IN HUNGRY HORSE
A 79-year-old Columbia Falls wom- an was killed and five other people were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Hungry Horse.
The Montana Highway Patrol says an Alberta woman had stopped her sport utility vehicle at about 5 p.m., Aug. 7 and was waiting for traffic to clear so she could turn eastbound on U.S. Highway 2.
She crossed in front of a westbound vehicle on the four-lane road, and into the path of a car traveling westbound in the outside lane. The victim was a pas- senger in the car.
A 72-year-old man who was driving the car and an 81-year-old woman, also from Columbia Falls, were injured and taken to the hospital in Kalispell. The victim was pronounced dead at the hos- pital.
A 42-year-old woman, 47-year-old man and 3-year-old boy, all from Cal- gary, suffered minor injuries.
MEGALOAD TO TRAVEL THROUGH FLATHEAD VALLEY
A massive piece of refinery equip- ment will be traveling through North- west Montana in the next few weeks, ac- cording to the Montana Department of Transportation.
The so-called megaload is destined for the Calumet Refinery in Great Falls and will travel through Troy, Libby, Ka- lispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Bigfork.
The refinery equipment is 21-feet wide and nearly 17-feet tall and is com- ing from Idaho. The megaload’s maxi- mum gross weight can reach 1.08 million pounds. Its maximum permitted length is 400 feet, 5 inches.
According to MDT, the piece of equipment will enter the state on Mon- tana Highway 200 west of Thompson Falls. From there it will travel north on Montana Highway 56 to Troy where it will turn east on U.S. Highway 2 and travel through Libby, on its way to Ka- lispell.
According to Dwane Williams of MDT’s motor carriers division, the meg- aload will move in seven different stages and will travel at night to minimize dis- ruptions. The move could begin as early as Aug. 18.
“It’ll happen in the middle of the night but drivers can expect delays of at least 10 minutes,” Williams said.
In Kalispell, the megaload will turn north on Meridian Road and join up with U.S. Highway 93 near Hutton Ranch, before going north toward Whitefish. From there it will turn east on Montana Highway 40 and travel through Colum-
bia Falls. Just east of Columbia Falls, it will turn south on Montana Highway 206 and travel to Montana Highway 35. From there it will travel through Cres- ton and turn east on Montana Highway 83 just north of Bigfork. From there it will take the Swan Highway to the junc- tion with Montana Highway 200 that will take it the rest of the way to Vaughn and Great Falls.
Megaloads have sparked controversy in recent years across the state due to their massive weight and size and their impacts on road infrastructure and en- vironmental corridors.
FOLLOWING INJURY, HIKER FIRES GUN IN GLACIER PARK TO ATTRACT ATTENTION
An injured hiker fired a gun into the air in Glacier National Park in an effort to attract attention over the weekend.
It was the second report of someone discharging a firearm in the park in as many weeks.
While it is legal to have a gun inside the national park, it is illegal to fire it.
According to spokesperson Sarah Grieb, a father and son were hiking down from Mount Siyeh on the afternoon of Aug. 9 when one of them dislodged a boulder that rolled toward the second hiking partner. In an effort to get out of the way, the hiker fell and was injured, receiving cuts to his head and neck, among other injuries.
In order to attract attention, one of the men fired a gun into the air at least once, according to Grieb. The group then continued to hike to the trailhead and met park officials about halfway. The injured hike was transported to Apgar where he was put in an ambulance.
Grieb said the incident is under in- vestigation.
On July 26, a hiker fired a gun at a bear on Mount Brown after the animal reportedly charged him and his bear spray proved ineffective.
FWP STILL SEARCHING FOR OTTERS THAT ATTACKED BOY
Wildlife officers are still investigat- ing an attack by two adult otters on a boy who was swimming Aug. 4 at Lake of the Woods east of Kalispell.
According to FWP Investigator Bri- an Sommers, the boy received multiple bite wounds to his legs. Sommers said the boy was treated and released yes- terday at St. Luke Clinic in Polson. FWP personnel searched the site of the attack but did not locate the otters.
FWP spoke with residents on the lake, according to spokesperson John Fraley.
“Otters have occasionally been ag- gressive. Recreationists should use cau- tion around these aquatic members of the weasel family,” Fraley stated.
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