Hit-and-run crash last month still unsolved

A brush with death on U.S. 93 south of Kalispell last month remains unsolved, and the Montana Highway Patrol would like to hear from any witnesses who can help identify the pickup that crashed into a motorcycle on the night of Thursday, July 30.

Around 10 p.m. that day, a pickup truck appeared to attempt to race with a Chevrolet Camaro driving northbound on U.S. 93 not far from the U.S. 93 Bypass.

The car the truck was possibly attempting to engage in a race did not share the same sentiment and the truck briefly lost control while slowing down and wobbled into the other lane. The right rear of the truck came into contact with a red Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Robert Hensley is investigating the wreck.

“The Camaro stopped, the pickup didn’t until after and sort of split sideways into the bike,” he said. “It knocked the motorcycle off the road. There was significant damage to the bike and luckily only minor injuries to the passenger and driver.”

The passenger on the bike had several broken ribs and both she and the driver, her fiance, had bruises and lacerations, but ultimately were lucky to leave with their lives.

The driver of the pickup truck sped off on the bypass and remains at large. Hensley said the descriptions of the vehicle seems to match parts found at the scene of the hit-and-run.

Law enforcement is looking for a dark, possibly green, Ford F-150 likely manufactured between 2004 and 2008.

“One of the problems we are running into is that we were given two differing descriptions of the vehicle,” he said. “We are trying to run down all the leads, but there are 270 vehicles in Flathead County which match that description.”

Hensley said that without a license plate number or better description of the vehicle, this case is likely to remain open.

An account of the accident by a relative of the operator of the motorcycle went viral on Facebook, gaining nearly 800 “shares” since the accident several weeks ago.

Hensley said he is tracking down any leads, but unless someone with more information comes forward, they might not go anywhere.

“The truck might not be around here anymore,” he said. “Most hit and runs go unsolved. But it is a long process and it is an ongoing investigation. We’re tracking down the leads.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.