Accident in Dayton stops traffic

Mike Cast, Leader Staff

Six people were hospitalized in Polson and Ronan after a car accident occurred south of the bridge over Dayton Creek on U.S. Highway 93 on Tuesday afternoon. A funeral procession from Polson to Dayton was stopped short when the driver of a 1996 Chevy Lumina became distracted and failed to stop, crashing into the car in front of her and causing a four-car pile up, according to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Jim Sanderson. The driver of the Lumina was alone in her car and taken to St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan. The following car, the most damaged, was a 1995 Dodge Neon. It held two passengers who were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. The next car, a 2009 Chevy 1500 pickup, held two passengers and only the driver was transported to St. Joseph. The final car, a 2001 Dodge Stratus held two people who were both taken to St. Luke.

Sanderson said all of the injured were coherent and talking and said that he did not believe the injuries were life threatening. All of those taken to St. Luke were discharged Tuesday afternoon, according to St. Luke spokesperson Wayne Fauchs. Those taken to St. Joseph were also discharged according to E.R. employee Mary Moberly. All those in the vehicles were reportedly wearing their seatbelts. The driver of the Lumina has been cited for careless driving. The accident investigation is being conducted by the Montana Highway Patrol. The Polson Fire Department, the Chief Cliff Fire Department, the Confederated and Kootenai Tribal Police, the Lake County Sheriff Department, and ambulances from Polson and Ronan were also on the scene.