County commissioner involved in accident

Flathead County Commissioner Cal Scott was not injured in a minor traffic accident Thursday morning but was cited for a right-of-way violation.

Scott was starting to turn left off Sandy Hill Lane onto Montana 40 just after 8:30 a.m. when his 2006 GMC pickup collided with an older model Ford pickup driven by David Maxwell.

Scott said he thought the highway was clear and was about three feet into the highway when he saw the eastbound pickup come over a rise in the road.

“I was starting to back up. The other guy’s brakes locked up and he caught me,” Scott said. “I think my pickup is totaled.”

Emergency responders checked out the other driver, who reportedly was slightly injured, and he was picked up by his family. Scott said Maxwell also was cited.

It was the second vehicle accident in which Scott has been involved  in that area. About a year ago his vehicle was “T-boned” by another vehicle at the Blue Moon intersection of Montana 40 and U.S. 2. Scott said he was not at fault in that collision.