Boy, 13, injured critically

| March 2, 2007 1:00 AM

Columbia Falls youth struck while crossing U.S. 2

The Daily Inter Lake

A 13-year-old boy attempting to walk across U.S. 2 on his way to school was hit by a pickup Thursday morning.

Alexander Becker suffered critical injuries and was flown by Life Flight to St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Columbia Falls police said he was crossing the highway at Rustic Rails retail store on U.S. 2 West when he walked in front of an oncoming truck. He apparently failed to look before crossing the highway, police said. The driver swerved into another lane in an attempt to avoid hitting him.

When the 7:40 a.m. call was received by county emergency dispatch, the boy was reported lying in the center lane of the highway.

Police said the boy was walking alone.

ALERT helicopter, Three Rivers EMS, the Columbia Falls Fire Department and the Montana Highway Patrol also helped at the scene.