U.S. 2 wreck claims two lives, injures four
Crews clean up the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle collision on U.S. 2 near Coram on Monday. (JP Edge/Hungry Horse News)
Updated 4:08 p.m.
A wreck on U.S. 2 near Coram on June 5 involving multiple vehicles killed two motorists and left four others injured, officials with Montana Highway Patrol said Wednesday.
Delbert “Allen” Egbert, the 77-year-old driver of a Honda Odyssey, and Lee Schrader, the 72-year-old driver of a Ford Edge, were both killed in the roughly 3:55 p.m. crash.
Authorities said the chain of events began when a freight truck out of New York hauling a load of lumber eastbound rear-ended the Odyssey. That vehicle then rammed into the Edge, propelling it across the center line into the westbound lane.
The Edge then collided with a motorhome and GMC Sierra. The three individuals in those two vehicles all suffered injuries, authorities said.
A Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling just behind the motorhome and GMC went into the ditch to avoid a collision, where it suffered damage. That motorist was uninjured.
A Ford sport utility vehicle traveling behind the Jeep also crossed the center line and began rotating before swerving hard to the right. The motorist sped up to avoid a head-on collision with the freight truck, which ended up clipping the Ford.
The freight truck came to a stop after driving into a ditch and rolling over onto its passenger side, officials said. Its operator suffered injuries.
Along with Montana Highway Patrol, the Coram-West Glacier, Hungry Horse, Martin City and Columbia Falls fire departments joined the Three Rivers Ambulance and Flathead County Sheriff's Office in responding to the scene.
News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@dailyinterlake.com