KALISPELL, MT — One person was killed Monday just before noon in a head-on crash on Highway 2 between Kila and Marion, Montana Highway Patrol said. The wreck involved a Subaru Ascent and a dump truck and left both vehicles on fire.
The Subaru was traveling westbound near mile marker 104 when it crossed the centerline and struck the dump truck head-on. The Subaru driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
How the wreck unfolded
After the collision, the Subaru rotated and overturned onto the westbound embankment, where it became engulfed in flames. The dump truck kept moving east of the impact area before coming to rest in the westbound lane.
According to the patrol, the truck also caught fire after stopping. The sequence left the roadway blocked in the area of the crash.
Driver injuries and scene
The dump truck driver suffered minor injuries, officials said. No other injuries were reported in the account provided by Montana Highway Patrol.
The scene was west of Kila in Flathead County, along a busy stretch of Highway 2 used by local traffic and travelers passing through the area.
What officials reported
Montana Highway Patrol identified the Subaru as a westbound vehicle that drifted across the centerline before impact. The agency said the crash happened near mile marker 104.
The patrol did not provide additional details about why the Subaru crossed the centerline or whether weather, speed, or impairment played a role.
Roadway impact after crash
Because the crash involved both vehicles catching fire, the wreck had a major effect on the highway in the area. The dump truck came to rest in the westbound lane, adding to the blockage after the collision.
Officials did not include a timeline for reopening the road in the information provided. The patrol said only that the crash happened just before noon Monday.
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