Man dies in crash on U.S. 2

The Daily Inter Lake

A 34-year-old Idaho man died Friday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash near the Lincoln County line on U.S. 2.

The victim was Andrew Packer of Sandpoint, Idaho.

According to Montana Highway Patrol, at about 1:30 p.m., the man, of Sandpoint, Idaho, was driving east in a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass. At

milepost 81.5, a deer jumped over the guardrail, directly in front of him.

He struck the deer.

"It appears the deer rolled up onto the windshield," said Flathead County Deputy Coroner Brad Stahlberg

The man, alone in his vehicle, swerved sharply to the left, into the oncoming traffic lane, and hit a westbound 2002 Dodge pickup, driven by a 56-year-old man from Priest River, Idaho.

The impact, nearly head-on, instantly killed the driver of the Cutlass.

The other man, also alone in his vehicle, was taken by Marion ambulance to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. His injuries were not believed to be critical.

Besides the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, ALERT helicopter, Marion ambulance and fire department responded. The Fisher River medical team from Libby was also dispatched and was then canceled.

Sgt. Duane Bowers of the highway patrol is lead investigator in the crash. He said both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and both airbags were deployed. Alcohol use does not appear to be a factor in the crash, he said.