Eight injured in West Reserve crash
<p><strong>Evergreen Fire</strong> Rescue, Kalispell Fire Department, Flathead County Sheriff's Office and Montana Highway Patrol sent more than 20 first responders to a two-vehicle accident at West Reserve Drive and Cheery Lynn Road in Evergreen on Friday afternoon. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Nine people were involved in a two-car collision Friday afternoon on West Reserve Drive northeast of Kalispell.
The crash left one vehicle upside-down in the road and forced the closure of both lanes of West Reserve. The road reopened at 4:10 p.m.
Eight people, including an eight-month-pregnant woman, were transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Two people were in serious condition, according to Evergreen Fire Chief Craig Williams.
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper James Schneider said a white Ford Crown Victoria pulled from Cheery Lynn Road in front of a red Dodge van traveling east at about 40 or 50 miles per hour on West Reserve Drive.
The van struck the car on the driver’s side, directly between the front and back seats, flipping it upside-down.
Crews used saws to peel the doors off the Crown Victoria and extricate both the pregnant woman and a male passenger.
Seven people were in the van, including an infant who appeared unharmed.
The crash brought a massive emergency response involving more than 20 law enforcement, fire and ambulance personnel and four ambulances.
Evergreen Fire Rescue, Kalispell Fire Department, Montana Highway Patrol and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash, which was called in at 2:54 p.m.
Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com.