Columbia Falls children, two others injured in four-vehicle crash east of Kalispell

Four people were injured Thursday morning in a four-vehicle crash on Montana 35 near McWenneger Slough east of Kalispell.

Two children – a 7-year-old girl airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and a 3-year-old boy now in the intensive care unit at Kalispell Regional Medical Center – suffered serious injuries in the wreck.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, a 40-year-old Columbia Falls woman with the two children in her Chevrolet Tahoe was westbound on Montana 35 about 8:20 a.m. Thursday when she slowed to turn left on Montford Road.

The woman, who used her turn signal, was followed by a Toyota Tundra and a full-sized Ford pickup hauling a full-sized pickup on a trailer.

With a guardrail on his right, the 54-year-old driver of the Ford pickup realized he wasn't going to stop in time and swerved into the oncoming lane of traffic, sideswiping the Toyota pickup and rear-ending the Tahoe – the first vehicle in line –as she turned.

A fourth car, an eastbound Dodge Durango, then struck the woman's sport-utility vehicle broadside, according to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Dustin LeRette.

The Ford pickup, carried by its momentum, continued with its trailer into a field on the south side of the highway. Neither the driver, a Kalispell man, nor his woman passenger were injured.

The driver of the Tundra and his passenger were not injured.

The woman driving the Tahoe suffered minor injuries and was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Her children suffered more serious trauma.

The 19-year-old driver of the Durango was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center with a severely broken leg.

Neither alcohol nor excessive speeds appear to be factors in the crash, LeRette said.

Investigative reports will be forwarded to the Flathead County Attorney's Office for possible charges.

The Montana Highway Patrol, Flathead County Sheriff's Office, Creston Fire Department, Evergreen Fire Department and Kalispell Fire Department responded. The accident blocked Montana 35 for some time.