Slick roads keep responders busy

A spurt of winter weather contributed to a string of accidents and near accidents throughout the valley.

A total of 10 accidents were reported in Flathead County between 3 p.m. Thursday and 12:30 a.m. Friday, including a head-on collision on U.S. 93 in northeast Whitefish. A woman was reportedly injured in the crash, with the other driver refusing medical treatment.

Of the remaining nine accidents, eight were reported in Kalispell and one in Whitefish. Responders from the Montana Highway Patrol, West Flathead EMS, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Evergreen Fire Rescue, Kalispell Fire Department and Whitefish Police Department handled those calls.

At 8:19 p.m. Thursday, it was reported that a driver had nearly rolled his truck while passing another vehicle on U.S. 93 North near Church Drive. The vehicle spun out in the middle of the highway.

Another truck went through two yards before almost hitting a tree in a parking lot on East Washington Street in Kalispell. Police stopped the driver and determined he had not been drinking but had lost control of his vehicle.

At 8 a.m. Friday morning, a logging truck driver rolled his rig on Montana 35 just south of Woods Bay close to mile marker 25, blocking both lanes. The truck was moved to the side of the highway, reopening both lanes by 11 a.m., and was towed from the scene before 1:30 p.m. The driver was cited by a Highway Patrol trooper for careless driving.

Officers with the Kalispell Police Department arrested a boy for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia at a middle school on Northwest Lane.

A passport was reported stolen from a vehicle on Fourth Avenue East.

A high school wood shop on Fourth Avenue West was reportedly spray-painted on three sides.

A man was arrested on a warrant for a probation violation after fleeing from deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to a report of a fight on South Woodland Drive in Kalispell. The man fled the home before deputies arrived, cutting through yards and going toward Dry Bridge Park. He was eventually located in the parking lot of a bar on U.S. 93 South.

A trespasser was arrested by deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office after they responded to a report of harassment on Second Avenue East.

Credit-card fraud was reported on B Street.

Officers with the Whitefish Police Department investigated a report of criminal mischief on Central Avenue.