One injury in 'chain reaction' crash
A Polson Rural Fire Department fireman helps clean up debris after a three-vehicle crash just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5 about a mile east of Polson. The driver of the Jeep Liberty pictured failed to stop and crashed into a Chevy S10 pickup, which in turn was pushed into the side of a Toyota 4Runner. (Joe Sova/Lake County Leader)
The Chevy S10 pictured above was struck from behind and pushed into the side of a Toyota 4Runner during the morning drive wreck Wednesday, Sept. 5. The driver of the S10 suffered minor head injuries and was transported to Provident St. Joseph Hospital in Polson.
Chief Gordon Geiser and other Polson Rural Fire Department personnel responded to a three-vehicle wreck about one mile east of Polson on Wednesday morning, Sept. 5.
Only one minor injury occurred in a three-vehicle “chain reaction” crash during the morning drive on Wednesday near Polson.
The wreck occurred in the westbound lane of Montana Highway 35, about one mile east of the junction with U.S. Highway 93. The incident was reported at 7:53 a.m., according to Montana State Trooper Jon Raymond, who was the investigating officer.
A factor in the wreck was when the driver of Ford Expedition ran out of gas and the vehicle stopped in the westbound lane of travel. There is no shoulder on that part of Highway 35, just a turning lane to separate the direction of travel.
The 28-year-old female driver of the Expedition, who is from Polson, reportedly was picked up by a co-worker, who lives at Big Arm. When they returned in the 52-year-old co-worker’s Toyota 4Runner, she stopped behind the disabled Expedition.
In turn, a 29-year-old man stopped his Chevrolet S10 pickup behind the 4Runner. Then a 21-year-old Lone Pine woman driving a Jeep Liberty failed to stop and crashed into the rear of the S10 “at highway speed” of about 55 mph, according to Raymond.
The impact pushed the S10 into the driver’s side of the 4Runner ahead of him. The Expedition in front of the 4Runner did not sustain any damage, Raymond said.
The three vehicles involved in the crash all remained upright and in the westbound lane of travel. Everyone in the vehicles was wearing their seat belt.
The driver of the S10 was transported to Provident St. Joseph Hospital in Polson. “He had lacerations to his head,” Raymond said, and was treated and released. “He was doing well.”
Raymond said the westbound lane was blocked for about an hour after the wreck. Polson Rural Fire Department personnel directed one-way traffic.
No alcohol was involved in the crash. The driver of the Jeep was either “distracted or inattentive,” Raymond said, and was cited for careless driving. Visibility was good and the highway was dry at the time of the crash, the trooper said.
Polson Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office personnel joined the Polson firemen with assistance at the scene.