Fiery wreck on U.S. 2 leaves 8 hospitalized

A fiery wreck on U.S. 2 East and Walsh Road sent eight people to the hospital Sunday afternoon.

According to reports from the Columbia Falls Fire Department and Montana Highway Patrol, the driver of a Toyota Highlander pulled out of Walsh Road without spotting a Subaru* traveling on U.S. 2, resulting in a T-bone collision.

The Subaru subsequently caught on fire. Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office pulled two occupants from the car while battling flames, using fire extinguishers to keep the fire at bay.

Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Thoreson said the vehicle eventually became completely engulfed.

No one died in the crash.

The Subaru contained three occupants in all. There were five people in the Toyota. Those more seriously injured were taken to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell. Lesser wounds were treated at Logan Health in Whitefish.

Alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash, Thoreson said.

Columbia Falls Fire Chief Karl Weeks said his department, the Columbia Falls Police Department, Three Rivers EMS as well as ambulances from Evergreen, Kalispell and Whitefish all responded to the wreck.

First responders cleared the scene of the wreck by 4:26 p.m.

*An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the vehicle that turned from Walsh Road onto U.S. 2.