Local residents killed in car crashes

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Mike Haynes has died from injuries he suffered in an on-duty collision with another vehicle south of Kalispell on Monday morning.

Haynes, 28, died just before 8:30 a.m. Friday at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, according to a press release from Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock.

He is the third trooper to be killed in Flathead Valley motor vehicle crash in the last 18 months. Haynes was sworn in as a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol in August 2006.

Haynes was traveling southbound on U.S. 93 north of Somers about 2:40 a.m. Monday. He was struck head-on by a Volkswagen being driven north in the southbound lanes by Travis Vandersloot, 29, of Columbia Falls. He was killed on impact and pronounced dead at the scene.

“Mike Haynes lived his values, and loved his job and his family. You couldn’t ask for a better trooper or man,” said Colonel Mike Tooley, head of the Highway Patrol. “Montanans should be proud that someone of Mike’s caliber was working for them. He will be missed.”

“The Highway Patrol has lost a brother and Montana has lost a hero. Our prayers tonight will be for Mike’s young family,” Bullock said. “Today and this weekend, I encourage all Montanans to honor and pray for the men and women who work in these dangerous occupations to make our lives safer. We also need to reflect on the devastating consequences that come with drinking and driving.”

Haynes is survived by his wife, Tawny, his two young children Taryn and Elias, and his parents, John and Melody Haynes of Kalispell.

Columbia Falls woman and son killed in crash

A 35-year-old Columbia Falls woman and her teenage son were killed in a two-vehicle crash at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 on the Highway 93 overpass near Church Drive north of Kalispell.

Erin Julie Thompson and Caden Vincent Odell, 13, were killed instantly, according to Deputy Coroner Sgt. Ernie Freebury of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department.

The 16-year-old female driver of the second vehicle was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and later flown to Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle. She was in critical condition. Her name was not released at press time.

The West Valley Fire Department was required to extricate Thompson and Odell from their vehicle. Thompson was four months pregnant at the time of the crash.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, Thompson was northbound on U.S. 93 when her Subaru Forester was struck head-on by a southbound Pontiac Grand Am driven by the 16-year-old girl. The report indicated that the girl’s vehicle crossed into the northbound lane.

Thompson was the wife of Jason Thompson, a counselor at Glacier Gateway Elementary in Columbia Falls. Odell, who was a student at Kalispell Middle School, was Jason Thompson’s stepson.

Investigation of the cause of the crash was turned over to the Flathead County Detective Division and the Montana Highway Patrol.