Devastating crash
Flathead County Undersheriff Mike Meehan climbs a steep hill along Conrad Drive east of Kalispell, where Roger Mellies of Kalispell drove a Mercury Cougar off the road and hit a tree, which broke the car in half before it landed on its top in brush below. Mellies was killed in the accident. Meehan said the car was going “very fast” and ripped out about 300 feet of guardrail on the west side of the Old Steel Bridge before it went off the road. Karen Nichols/Daily Inter Lake
Kills driver Roger Mellies, 59, of Kalispell was pronounced dead at the scene at Old Steel Bridge
The Daily Inter Lake
A Kalispell man died Tuesday afternoon when his vehicle struck a guardrail as it approached the Old Steel Bridge, flew into the air and slammed into a tree.
The impact cleaved the car in two right behind the windshield posts, according to Flathead County Undersheriff Mike Meehan.
"It was one of the most devastating crashes I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of them," Meehan said.
Flathead County Deputy Coroner Dave Leib identified the driver as Roger Mellies, 59. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Leib said Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, but it was apparent that Mellies was traveling "extremely fast."
Meehan said it appears that Mellies started losing control of his Mercury Cougar near Kiwanis Park and continued east on Conrad Drive, peeling 50 to 150 yards of guardrail from the roadway.
The car then flew sideways into the air about 15 yards before hitting a cottonwood tree, Meehan said.
"He was airborne for quite a ways," Meehan said. He estimated Mellies' speed was at least 75 mph.
A witness in Kiwanis Park called for help.
Responders came from the Sheriff's Office, Highway Patrol, and Creston, Evergreen, and Kalispell fire departments, Meehan said.
The county Road and Bridge Department helped make the road passable again.