Wrecks in the Canyon occur during hailstorm

A hailstorm in the Canyon led to two accidents this afternoon.

A woman was driving a silver Toyota Forerunner eastbound on U.S. Highway 2 East when she encountered about an inch deep of hail on the road at 12:45 p.m., Montana Highway Patrol David Mills said.

The vehicle lost control and spun about two times before coming to a stop perpendicular to the highway near Glacier Cabins and Old U.S. Highway 2.

A blue Chevrolet truck that had been following the sport utility vehicle tried to stop or swerve out of the way but was unable to due to the road conditions, Mills said. The truck ran into the SUV. Alcohol and speeding were not factors in the crash, he said.

The occupants of the pickup truck had minor injuries because they were not wearing seat belts, he said. The driver of the truck was ticketed for no seat belts.

The first report of the accident mentioned a head injury that was bleeding. No one was taken to the hospital.

Several hailstorms came through the area, blanketing the roads in ice. Columbia Falls didn't experience the severe weather and just had rain.

After the first crash, Mills responded to another accident in Hungry Horse where one vehicle hit the guard rail due to the slushy roads. No injuries were reported in the second crash.