Highway death still under investigation

Kalispell police are still investigating a crash that ended in the death of a 14-year-old Somers boy.

Dane Shattuck was struck and killed by an off-duty Montana highway patrolman as he tried to cross U.S. 93 where it intersects with Montana 82 on his bicycle Tuesday afternoon.

Shuttuck's death is the 10th traffic-related fatality in Flathead County this year, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.

Officials were still conducting interviews, compiling witness information and formalizing their investigation late Wednesday.

Authorities did say Dustin LaRette, the off-duty patrolman, was traveling south on U.S. 93 when Shattuck allegedly failed to yield the right of way, entered the road and was hit. The crash occurred almost directly in front of the White Oak Lodge.

Shattuck was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center after the 12:15 p.m. crash, and was pronounced dead at 1:27 p.m. Shattuck suffered massive blunt force trauma to his head, neck, and chest, according to Flathead County coroners.

The highway is four lanes wide and has a speed limit of 65 mph where Shattuck tried to cross. There is a flashing yellow light signaling caution to drivers on U.S. 93 at that intersection.

Shattuck was with another boy, whose name has not been released, at the time of the accident.

There have been 134 traffic related fatalities in Montana this year. Twenty-eight of those fatalities have occurred in Flathead, Lake, Sanders, and Lincoln Counties, compared with 33 fatalities in those same counties at this time last year.

Because the incident involved a highway patrolman, the Kalispell Police Department, Flathead County Attorney's Office, and Flathead County Sheriff's Office are assisting in the investigation.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com