Man takes river plunge after police chase

A high-speed chase ended in the icy Flathead River after the driver abandoned the allegedly stolen vehicle and took a dive to avoid being arrested Sunday afternoon.

Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies identified the driver as Dominic Lee, 44, and his passenger as Amanda Brandt, 34, both from Kalispell.

The stolen vehicle was first spotted by its owner in Columbia Falls at around 4 p.m. on Sunday, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release. The woman followed the vehicle to Birch Grove Road where she met a deputy.

The pursuit began on Whitefish Stage Road when the deputy attempted to stop the stolen vehicle and the driver sped off, going south on Whitefish Stage Road at speeds exceeding 80 mph.

Sheriff’s deputies and the Montana Highway Patrol pursued the vehicle through Evergreen and managed to successfully deploy spike strips, flattening one of its tires.

The vehicle continued, entering the Spruce Park Campground where the pursuit ended with the stolen vehicle’s front wheels dangling over the bank of the Flathead River.

Once the truck came to a stop, authorities took Brandt into custody without a fight, but Lee fled on foot and jumped into the river, swimming downstream and passing under the Montana 35 Bridge. Deputies pulled Lee from the river using a rescue boat approximately a quarter mile upstream from the Old Steel Bridge.

Lee was reportedly hypothermic and unable to move once he got to the riverbank. He was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where he is still currently being treated.

Brandt is in custody at the Flathead County Detention Center.

Felony charges are pending for both parties.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.