Four Misson Valley women killed in Lake County wreck

A major accident on Post Creek Hill on Aug. 27 claimed the lives of four Mission Valley women.

Denise Burland, 53, of Polson, Jo Lynn Leishman, 53 of Pablo, Lanelle Fisher, 52 of Ronan, and Kimberly R. Hewankorn, 42 of Polson were killed in the collision between a car and an RV on U.S. 93, north of St. Ignatius.

Emergency responders were dispatched to mile marker 38.5 at around 5:36 p.m. and determined that the four passengers in the car had died, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell.

The RV had 10 passengers and while some suffered injuries, all survived. 

Traffic was diverted for three and a half hours while crews investigated and managed the scene.

The decedents were transported to the Montana State Medical Examiner’s office for autopsies.

As of Aug. 28, the Lake County Coroner’s Office was investigating the cause and manner of the victims' deaths while the Montana Highway Patrol was investigating the crash.

“The Lake County Sheriff and Coroner’s Office extend our deepest condolences to the friends and families of these women,” said Bell in a statement.