Dayton woman dies in unusual pool accident

An elderly woman from Dayton died in an odd and tragic accident last week in Lakeside.

According to Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino, Elaine Miller. 90, drove her vehicle, an AMC Eagle, four-door car, on to an unoccupied property in the 600 block of Lakeside Boulevard. She drove onto a pool cover before stopping.

She then got out of the vehicle and made it to the rear of the vehicle, where she fell in an area where a tear in the cover allowed water to come over the top.

Heino said property management staff found Miller at about 10:30 a.m. Friday.

“She was last seen Wednesday and it was reported she was in the area shopping,” Heino said. “The preliminary cause of death was hypothermia. We’re not sure when she drove on to the pool cover.”