Five vehicles involved in highway crash

Several people suffered serious injuries Wednesday afternoon in a five-vehicle crash on U.S. 2 west of Kalispell.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Jerril Ren, an LHC Inc. dump truck was traveling westbound on U.S. 2 when it rear-ended a Chevy Astro van that had slowed so that another vehicle traveling westbound could turn into a driveway.

The van was pushed into the eastbound lane and struck an oncoming Kia.

“It was near head-on,” Ren said. The Kia and the van rolled into the ditch.

The dump truck continued westbound and struck a Ford pickup, which then rear-ended a Nissan Rouge.

The pickup and the dump truck came to rest in the middle of the westbound lane.

“There was nearly full blockage,” Ren said.

There were passengers in both the Kia and Astro.

“Everybody was transported except for the driver of the dump truck and driver of pickup,” Ren said. “We were told they were serious injuries.”

More information was not available since troopers were at Kalispell Regional Medical Center Wednesday evening investigating the crash.

The crash occurred just before 1 p.m. near the intersection with West Valley Drive.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.