Poor visibility leads to pedestrian accident

A 55-year-old man suffered a severe head wound and other injuries after being struck by a car Tuesday evening in Kalispell.

The Kalispell resident, whose name was not released, was transported to the Kalispell Regional Medical Center with unspecified injuries after a witness called 911 at about 6:36 p.m.

Police and paramedics were called to Ninth Street West where Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nassett said drug paraphernalia was found on the road. He said it is too soon to determine whether or not it was a factor in the collision. An investigation is ongoing.

“At this time, we’re not sure if it is attributable to the pedestrian or not,” Nassett said.

The driver of the Toyota Tercel that struck the man was not cited.

“The vehicle on First Avenue West turned down Ninth Street West and turned into a low setting sun and wasn’t able to see the pedestrian in the roadway,” Nasset said.

University of Montana employee Hayden Janssen said he was visiting a friend at a nearby home when he heard the collision.

“I heard it and turned in time and my friend saw him fly in the air,” said Janssen, who was the first person to reach the man.

He said the man crashed into the vehicle’s windshield, had injuries to his leg and head and was temporarily unresponsive.

The collision marks the second case of pedestrians being struck by a vehicle in Flathead County this week. Two men were struck by a Jeep Cherokee Saturday night on U.S. 2 East in Evergreen.

Kyle Kindgren, 39, of Kalispell, died as a result of the collision. Kalispell native Rory Holcomb, 33, is currently in the intensive care unit of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle being treated for his injuries.

The Montana Highway Patrol has not released the results of its crash investigation.