Pickup-truck driver dies in collision with chip truck
<p><strong>U.S. 93</strong> was closed Thursday morning when a pickup truck collided with a chip truck, leading to the death of a 42-year-old Woods Bay man. (Megan Strickland/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
A 42-year-old Woods Bay man died Thursday morning in a collision between a pickup truck and a loaded wood-chip truck at Somers.
The crash occurred near the intersection of U.S. 93 and School Addition Road at 6:50 a.m., closing the highway until 11:25 a.m.
“The pickup failed to negotiate the curve in the corner and crossed into the chip truck’s path, striking it partially head on,” Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David Mills said.
The wood-chip truck was northbound and the pickup was southbound.
The driver of the Chevrolet pickup died at the scene. The 30-year-old driver of the wood chip truck was uninjured. He was from Trout Creek, according to Mills.
The pickup-truck driver was wearing his seat belt and air bags in the Chevy did deploy. Mills is still investigating if other factors might have caused the crash.
At least one fender-bender occurred as traffic was detoured onto School Addition Road.
The Lakeside Quick Response Unit, Somers Fire Department, and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the crash.
Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.