Man killed in boating accident

A Whitefish man was killed and his wife seriously injured when their boat was struck following the Fourth of July fireworks display in Lakeside.

Travis Wickum, 27, died at the scene of massive trauma injuries when his boat was hit in Flathead Lake about three miles east of Lakeside at about 11:30 p.m.

Reading from the coroner's report on Monday, Flathead County sheriff Mike Meehan said the couple's 17-foot boat was "T-boned" by a 19-foot boat traveling about 20 mph. The couple's boat did not sink.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game warden Matt Heaton, who is investigating the incident, said it's unclear whether the couple's boat had its lights on as required by law.

"We're going through the boat and still sorting out the evidence," Heaton said.

Wickum's wife was injured and transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Two girls, 3 and 5, were asleep in the couple's boat with their lifejackets on and were not injured.

The second boat towed the couple's boat to a dock in Lakeside. Personnel from Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and emergency services were on the scene shortly afterwards.