Fatal collision claims life of Polson resident

A two-vehicle collision on Oct. 20 north of mile marker 65 on U.S. Highway 93 claimed the life of 62-year-old Colleen Kelley of Polson.

She was the driver and sole occupant of one of the vehicles. In a separate news report, Sheriff Don Bell said a second person was hospitalized, and Jaws of Life were deployed at the scene.

The call came in around 7:15 p.m. near the intersection of Flathead View Dr. on Sunnyslope Hill. Traffic was diverted for more than two hours to allow Montana Highway Patrol and the Lake County Coroner’s Office to conduct their investigation and clear the highway.

Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash while the Lake County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death. No additional information was available by presstime.

Kelley, also known as KK to her friends, was a longtime employee at Delaney’s Nursery and Landscaping. According to her obituary, which appears in this week’s paper, “she loved her work and enjoyed finding her customers the perfect trees and shrubs for their property.” Kelley is also described as “a great cook, cat lover and cut-throat cribbage player.”

A memorial is planned for sometime next spring, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.