Van crashes outside empty cafe

A spectacular crash in downtown Polson on Monday afternoon could have had a much worse outcome.

A woman who was exiting the drive-through at First Interstate Bank at the corner of U.S. Highway 93 and First Street East around 1 p.m. lost control of her Dodge minivan and slammed into the entryway of Mrs. Wonderful’s Cafe across the alley from the bank.

The van crashed into some small trees to the left of the cafe’s front door. The vehicle’s front end rode up one of the trees, possibly with the help of a nearby propane tank, and the van rolled to the right, landing on its side. The cafe was closed at the time since the business is still operating on offseason hours, and the entry area with outdoor seating was empty. The nose of the van slid to a rest about a foot from the building’s front wall and windows.

The crash prompted a response from Polson police, the Polson Fire Department, Montana Highway Patrol and a Polson ambulance.

Responders opened the back doors and cleared the van so they could reach the driver, who was trapped inside for about 15 to 20 minutes before being helped out through the back door. The woman was placed on a stretcher and moved to the ambulance, but she soon was walking around the scene and appeared not to have sustained any major injuries.

Officer Michael Wharton of the Polson Police Department issued the driver citations for driving with a suspended license and failure to provide proof of insurance. He said she likely hit the gas pedal instead of the brake as she was going through the bank’s drive-through area.