High-speed chase stretches 65 miles, over county line

A high speed chase late Wednesday night began in St. Ignatius and ended more than 60 miles north in the Lakeside area in Flathead County.

According to a press release from Lake County Sheriff Don Bell, at approximately 11:20 p.m., a Lake County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle with defective equipment that was driving erratically.

The vehicle was traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 93 near St. Ignatius when it failed to yield to the officer. A chase ensued with speeds reaching 95 mph.

It was confirmed that Felicia Blackman was driving the vehicle with Johnna Yellowkidney as a passenger.

Blackman had a warrant from Glacier County and Yellowkidney had a warrant from Cascade County.

“Several attempts were made by officers to deploy spike strips in Ronan and Pablo, but the vehicle was able to either avoid them, or the deployment was unsuccessful,” the statement read.

Blackman drove the vehicle on two flat tires until she hit a guardrail near mile post 101 near Lakeside, Bell stated. The Montana State Highway Patrol said that the vehicle was a Hyundai Elantra.

Bell said during a phone interview that a warrant was served on the vehicle, and officers discovered “lots of used hypodermic needles” following a search, although no drugs were found.

Both women were transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center as a result of the crash.

Blackman was released from KMRC and was taken to Flathead County Jail. Criminal charges are pending in Lake County.

Assisting agencies in the chase were Flathead Tribal, Ronan and Polson Police Departments, Montana State Highway Patrol and Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.