Seven vehicles totaled

A driver led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, crashed into eight parked vehicles at an Evergreen dealership and tried to flee on foot before he was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon.

Seven of the vehicles were totaled at Glacier Auto Co. on U.S. 2 in Evergreen.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper R.L. Hensley, a Kalispell Police officer tried to contact the driver of a possibly stolen pickup truck parked in Walmart parking lot between 3:30 and 4 p.m.

“The driver was able to get away from the officer and take off in the vehicle,” Hensley said.

The pickup was then reported on Whitefish Stage Road. A highway patrolman located the vehicle on River Road and again lost track of it until the driver lost control while driving down West Cottonwood Drive at the intersection of U.S. 2.

The pickup truck smashed into eight parked vehicles in the Glacier Auto lot, causing massive damage.

The driver then jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot across U.S. 2, where he was captured and taken into custody by Kalispell Police, Hensley said.

Glacier Auto Co. owner Don Soennichsen said seven of the eight vehicles were total losses. He estimated his damage to be $40,000 to $50,000.

The collision caused a domino effect that was “like bowling pins,” Soennichsen said.

Jesse James, manager of Soennichsen’s other auto lot across the street, saw the arrest happen. He said he saw officers confiscate suspected drug paraphernalia from the suspect.

“It was pretty horrific,” James said.

There was no information Tuesday evening on the identity of the driver.  

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