Authorities ID Kila crash victim

A 39-year-old Kalispell man who died Friday night in a traffic accident in Kila has been identified as David Espinosa, according to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, Espinosa was driving a 1995 Chevrolet C25 on Haywire Gulch in Kila. He was reportedly traveling too fast to maintain control when negotiating a curve and the vehicle went off the shoulder where it collided with trees before rolling and coming to rest on the driver’s side.

Espinosa was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash was reported at 11:06 p.m. Road conditions were bare and dry. Alcohol, drugs and speed are suspected factors in the crash.

There have been 53 traffic fatalities on Montana highways in 2021.