Second crash Friday claims life of Columbia Falls man

A second fatal traffic crash occurred in the Flathead Valley on Friday, claiming the life of a 41-year-old Columbia Falls man.

According to the Montana Highway Patrol, the man was driving a 2005 Harley Davidson motorcycle north on U.S. 2 at about 5:20 p.m. when a 2004 Toyota Avalon driven by a 60-year-old Eureka woman entered the highway from East Cottonwood Drive and clipped the front of the bike.

The man was thrown from the motorcycle, suffered serious head injuries and died at the scene.

The man was not wearing a helmet. The woman was not injured.

Drugs, alcohol or speed were not suspected factors in the crash.

It was the 115th fatality on Montana roads in 2021.