West Valley youth dies in highway crash

A 17-year-old West Valley boy died in a two-vehicle crash Thursday evening on icy Montana 82 between Somers and Bigfork.

The Montana Highway Patrol said Gabrel Jess Johnston was driving eastbound at 4:45 p.m. Thursday when he lost control on the snow-covered and icy road and crossed the center line into the path of a westbound sport utility vehicle.

The accident occurred at the “S” curves on the highway.

Johnston, who was wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene from blunt-force trauma. 

Johnston attended Glacier High School through his sophomore year in 2013-14.

The driver of the SUV, a 62-year-old Bigfork man, was taken to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The Highway Patrol, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Somers Fire Department and Bigfork Fire and EMS responded to the accident. 

The Bigfork driver had to be extricated swiftly because of pooling fuel from his vehicle. He was assisted by a passer-by who happened to be a retired EMT, Trooper Rick Mehring said.

Troopers returned to the scene of the accident Friday afternoon to conduct a total station investigation. 

The fatal crash was one of a series of accidents across the Flathead Valley on Thursday. Earlier in the day, a 31-year-old Columbia Falls driver was injured in a head-on crash on West Reserve Drive.