Columbia Falls man killed in rollover accident on U.S. Highway 2

By CHRIS PETERSON / Hungry Horse News

A Columbia Falls man was killed and three other passengers were injured in an accident Saturday afternoon east of West Glacier.

Killed in the accident was driver Michael Robert Willcut, 22. According to Flathead County Deputy Coroner Lance Norman, Willcut was not wearing his seatbelt when the Honda Accord he was driving westbound drifted off the road and rolled several times about 2:46 p.m. at mile marker 169.5.

Willcutt was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other three passengers were also injured and were taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment. They were Kayla Bullock, 21, of Columbia Falls, Anthony Minson, 21, of Columbia Falls and Thor Elgaen, 17, of Lakewood, Wash.

Three Rivers Ambulance, Canyon QRU, Coram-West Glacier and the ALERT helicopter responded to the accident. ALERT transported Bullock to the hospital.

Eyewitnesses at the scene say that Willcut apparently fell asleep at the wheel and Montana Highway Patrolman Michael Hensley confirmed that. He said there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol involved and speed was not a factor in the crash. The marks on the road and the account of a driver behind the vehicle indicate that Willcut simply went off the highway.

The party had apparently left to go fishing and were returning to Columbia Falls when the accident happened.