Polson man killed crossing Highway 93 in Polson

Roger Bordeaux, 64, died at about 10 p.m. Saturday after a local woman accidentally struck him with her car earlier that evening, Wade Nash, Polson Police chief said.

An unnamed woman was traveling in the northbound lane of Highway 93 at about 7:35 p.m. when she struck Bordeaux who was trying to cross the street near Super 1 Foods.

Bordeaux was not in a crosswalk when he was hit, Nash said.

“It does not appear that drugs, texting or alcohol were a factor in the crash,” Nash said.

The woman did not appear to be speeding at the time of the collision. 

The driver’s identity was not publicly available at press time.

Moments after Bordeaux was hit, a fender bender accident occurred about a half of a block south of the first collision – near the Hot Spot Thai Café – and was likely caused by the traffic back up, Nash said.

Many local residents know that Bordeaux sold pies from a lawn-chair stand in the Tribal-owned lot across from Super 1 Foods. 

He appeared to be crossing from the grocery store to his pie stand at the time of the crash.

Bordeaux’s pie stand was off to the side of the road and unharmed by the collision.

Bordeaux was treated on scene and flown to Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell after the accident.

Nash said he was notified by a Flathead County Sheriff’s deputy that Bordeaux died of his injuries at about 10 p.m. the same evening.

Yvette Smiley of Polson said she was in Lakeside when the accident occurred. Smiley, who was Bordeaux’s caregiver and legal guardian, lived with Bordeaux, helping him stay on the straight and narrow after his release from jail, and encouraged him to follow his passion for baking.

In his younger years, Bordeaux fought a battle with alcohol abuse. 

But after serving time for a Lake County conviction, Bordeaux transformed his lifestyle and was five years clean and sober, she said.

Nash agreed that Bordeaux was on the right life path.

But Smiley knew Bordeaux in a special way. She lived with him and watched out for his needs. She and her adult children helped convert part of Bordeaux’s home so he could pursue his passion to bake sweets and made sure that he cared for his health in the process.

“He was so happy that day,” Smiley said. “He was so happy. He got to see lots of people he hasn’t seen in a long time.”

Bordeaux was done selling for the day – he sold out of his pies. Bordeaux was waiting for another relative Smiley sent to pick him up and take him home.

But that final trip home was not made to his Polson house, Smiley said.

The relative arrived after the accident took place.

Once notified of the unfolding incident, Smiley said she raced to the scene in Polson. But by the time she arrived Bourdeaux was airlifted to Kalispell. But it was too late to see Bourdeaux one last time.

“I will see him again when it is my time,” Smiley said.

Though Smiley was not told the name of the driver who hit Bourdeaux, she wants to convey an important message directly to her:

“I want her to know that the family has no hard feelings,” Smiley said. “She’s got to be horrified. I would be. But I want everybody to know his family has no hard feelings. It was his time to go and it was an accident. His mother wanted him for Mother’s Day and she took him home.” 

Smiley said that Bordeaux was a happy man who was not lonesome and was happy to have family to live with. Smiley is a cousin of Bordeaux’s from both sides of his family.

While the cold wind brushed off Flathead Lake Monday morning, Smiley and her relatives erected a small memorial to their fallen family member.  

The memorial is placed near the spot he was hit, she said.

Later the same day, Smiley returned to post a photo alongside the flowers in hopes that she can memorialize the blessing of her cousin and friend. 

The driver, who is fully cooperating with law enforcement, was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson for testing. 

Smiley said a memorial service is planned for Bordeaux on May 13.