Ronan man killed in head-on crash south of Pablo

A woman driver speeding away from a Lake County sheriff's deputy on U.S. 93 crossed into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision that killed a Ronan man early Friday, officials said.

A news release from Lake County Sheriff Don Bell identified the deceased driver as 35-year-old Ryan Lefthand. A Lake County Leader birth announcement from February lists a Ryan Lefthand as the father of a new baby girl who joined four other siblings.

The woman, whose name was not immediately released, was taken to a local hospital, Daybell said. A Montana Highway Patrol incident report describes her as an 18-year-old from Arlee who was driving a Jeep Liberty SUV. The report indicates Lefthand was driving a Chrysler 300M sedan.

According to the sheriff's office, a deputy pulled over a woman suspected of driving under the influence in Polson around midnight. The deputy identified the woman but she fled south along U.S. 93 when asked to get out of the SUV.

The deputy attempted to follow the vehicle but did not engage in a high-speed pursuit, eventually losing sight of it north of Pablo, the sheriff's office said. Flathead tribal police officers reported seeing the SUV pass the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes campus in excess of 100 mph.

As the SUV traveled south from Pablo, it crossed into the northbound lane and struck Lefthand's car head-on, instantly killing him, officials said.

The crash occurred just north of Lake's Corner.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office, which doubles as the county coroner's office, is investigating Lefthand's death. The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.