Two accidents in three days near Melita Island Rd.

BIG ARM — The curve in U.S. Hwy. 93 near Melita Island Rd. proved treacherous for two sets of drivers involved in separate accidents at that location within three days of each other.

Around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, three cars were damaged when a small, silver passenger car with a California license plate, slowed down to make a left turn. According to Montana Highway Patrol officer Shad Andersen, a black Chevy pickup truck immediately behind the car slowed appropriately, but a third car, a red Dodge pickup, failed to stop soon enough.

“The red Dodge slammed into the black Chevy, accordioned the box on the Chevy and caused it to hit the silver passenger car,” Andersen said.

According to Andersen, the woman driving the silver car and her infant daughter were transported to St. Joeseph Medical Center for treatment. He did not know the extent of the injuries.

The second crash near Melita Island, a one car accident, occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Monday afternoon. According to MHP officer Jim Sanderson, careless driving was to blame for the accident which caused significant front-end damage to a 2000 Toyota 4-Runner.

“The driver reached down to pick up a soda and drove into the right side ditch,” Sanderson said. “When she pulled out she hit a critical speed and skidded into the guard rail on the opposite side.”

According to Sanderson, the adult female driver and her 10-year-old son, both of Big Arm, were transported to the hospital for treatment. He did not know the extent of the injuries, but described both mom and son as being able to “walk and talk” after the crash.

Sanderson said he believed that a careless driving charge would be filed against the driver, but added that the charge could change pending the results of law enforcement’s investigation into the crash, which was responded to by MHP, Polson Volunteer Fire and the Lake County Sheriff’s department.