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Pablo crash leaves one dead, others badly injured

by Ashley Fox Lake County Leader
| November 1, 2018 3:50 PM

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Crews work to clean the scene of a fatal crash in Pablo Saturday morning at the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and Old Highway 93. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)

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Traffic comes to a stop on U.S. Highway 93 south as crews work to clean up a scene from a fatal crash in Pablo late Saturday morning. Traffic had to be diverted to Old Highway 93. (Ashley Fox/Lake County Leader)

One Montana man is dead following a weekend crash that left others injured.

Billy J. Cody, 68, of Rexford, was pronounced dead at the scene of a two-vehicle crash Saturday, Oct. 27, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 93 and Old Highway 93, in Pablo, according to Lake County Sheriff Don Bell.

Charges are pending an investigation, Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Chan Berry said, Tuesday.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, he added.

Berry said that according to a crash report, a 2015 Dodge Ram was headed westbound on Old Highway 93, attemping to cross U.S. Highway 93.

A 2008 Dodge Ram was traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 93 when the 2015 Dodge Ram failed to stop at a stop sign, t-boning the older truck.

The driver of the 2015 Dodge Ram was injured and transported to St. Luke Community Healthcare in Ronan, as was a passenger in the 2008 Dodge Ram, while the passenger was found outside the vehicle and lifeflighted to Kalispell Medical Regional Center, Berry said.

Cody was the driver of the 2008 Dodge Ram.

Berry said that all four victims are Montana residents, but further information was not available Tuesday.

Traffic on U.S. Highway 93 southbound was closed while crews worked to secure and clean the scene, Berry said, and traffic reopened “a little after noon.”

Responding to the call in addition to MHP were Polson and Ronan ambulance services, Ronan Fire Department, LCSO, Flathead Tribal Police, ALERT helicopter, and Life Flight.

Ronan Fire Chief Mark Clary added that a doctor and a flight nurse were off-duty when they saw the scene, and exited their vehicles to assist as well.