Pedestrian death poses mystery for law officers

The Daily Inter Lake

A Kalispell man struck and killed late Saturday by a car near Martin City has been identified as 27-year-old Cale Thomas Brown.

But investigators have yet to discover a reason why Brown was in the area or what he was doing in the middle of the roadway, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Glen Barcus said.

According to the patrol, Brown was in the right lane of eastbound traffic on U.S. 2 near mile marker 144 just before 11:30 p.m. when he was hit by a Ford Crown Victoria as it navigated a curve.

Troopers and sheriff's deputies have so far been unable to find either a vehicle Brown may have driven into the area or anybody who may have been with him that night.

The collision remains under investigation, Barcus said.

Flathead County coroners pronounced Brown dead at the scene. The 62-year-old and 57-year-old occupants of the Crown Victoria were not injured.

The couple was visiting from Kentucky and were en route from Glacier Park International Airport to their Coram motel in a rented Crown Victoria when the collision occurred, Barcus said.

Although the Crown Victoria's driver was unable to stop, excessive speed was not a factor in the crash. There is no evidence the driver, who has not been cited, was intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, Barcus said.

Blood samples taken from both Brown and the driver of the Crown Victoria will be sent to the state crime lab in Missoula for analysis, Barcus said.

Anyone with information related to the crash is encouraged to call the Flathead County Sheriff's Office at (406) 758-5610 or the Montana Highway Patrol at (800) 525-5555.