Man ID'd in fatal crash near Bigfork

The identity of an area man who died in a two-vehicle, head-on traffic accident Monday evening in Flathead County has been released.

Brandon Heath Nelson, 38, of Kalispell, suffered fatal injuries in the collision with a BNSF Railway commercial truck.

According to Montana Highway Patrol, Nelson was driving a mid-size pickup east on Montana 82 near the Flathead River bridge when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and collided with the tractor trailer.

The driver of the commercial truck was not injured.

A Highway Patrol trooper said speed or alcohol were not believed to be factors in the crash. It wasn’t known if the man who died was wearing a seat belt.

The highway was closed for about four hours. Officials said the investigation into the crash will continue.