Cyclists suffer serious injuries in collision

Two Bitterroot Valley residents were being treated for extensive injuries Wednesday after a car collided with their motorcycle on Montana 35.

The man and woman, both in their 50s, were traveling south behind a semi-truck near Broeder Loop at about 11:30 a.m. when the crash occurred, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.

Patrol Officer E.D. Sievers said both suffered major injuries to their lower extremities after a northbound Ford Crown Victoria crossed the center line and collided with the Harley Davidson they were riding.

The 78-year-old Kalispell woman driving the car was not injured. She apparently had attempted to make a left turn without seeing the motorcycle after the semi-truck passed, Sievers said.

“She turned right into the side of the motorcycle,” Sievers said.

The ALERT helicopter transported them to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where one was in surgery and the other was being treated late Wednesday afternoon.

The collision happened near milepost 40. Charges and citations are pending, Sievers said.

The names of the drivers and passenger were not being released.