Woman dies in truck crash

A 47-year-old woman died after crashing her pickup truck on Church Drive west of Kalispell on Wednesday afternoon.

Tamar Lambert of Kalispell died after her 1994 Ford Ranger left the roadway and rolled east of Stillwater Road at about 4:10 p.m., according to a Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputy coroner.

Passing motorists reported the crash after the truck crashed down a steep embankment and came to rest on its roof.

Emergency responders had to cut away the door of the vehicle since the roof had completely collapsed, according to the Montana Highway Patrol. Lambert was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The driver was trapped inside and had to be extricated with the Jaws of life,” said Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Bob Hensley, who investigated the crash.

Hensley said it is unclear why Lambert’s westbound vehicle left the roadway. There were no signs that she attempted to evade any road hazard, and skid marks indicated she did not attempt to avoid the embankment, he said.

Neither alcohol or speed were factors in the crash, he said.

“It’s almost as if she fell asleep,” Hensley said.