Idaho residents facing charges after Lake County crash

Two Idaho residents are facing charges following a crash in Lake County on Wednesday, April 25.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Chan Berry, troopers were dispatched to a report of a Hyundai that crashed at about 4 p.m. on Montana 28, near mile marker 45.

Berry said that witnesses reported a woman, 19, was driving when the car crashed. After the wreck, the driver and a 23-year-old male passenger allegedly swapped positions and the man continued driving.

Names of the man and woman are not being released pending an investigation, Berry confirmed.

Berry said he located the Hyundai at the intersection of Montana 28 and U.S. 93, conducting a traffic stop, during which time the woman “tried walking away” from Berry.

While placing the woman in handcuffs, Berry said the man tried walking away, but he was also handcuffed.

While the man was briefly secured, the woman then reportedly walked into traffic on the highway. Berry said when he went to retrieve her, the man was able to slip the handcuffed arms from behind his body to forward, stealing a nearby parked Dodge pickup.

The man drove west on Montana 28 and was apprehended near mile marker 30.

Berry said assisting in the call were Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead Tribal Police, Hot Springs Police and the Chief Cliff Volunteer Fire Department.