1 killed in 3-vehicle crash on bypass

One person was killed in a crash and multiple other commuters were injured as a wave of winter weather rolled across the Flathead Valley Wednesday morning.

The Montana Highway patrol reported about two dozen crashes in the Kalispell district between midnight and 2 p.m.

An adult driver died from injuries in a three-vehicle crash on the U.S. 93 bypass just north of the U.S. 2 exit in Kalispell at about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. The driver was traveling southbound on the bypass when their vehicle crossed the center lane into northbound traffic and collided with two vehicles traveling northbound, according to Kalispell Police Department traffic officer Colton Bagnoli.

The drivers were the only occupants in each of the three vehicles involved in the crash, he said.

The driver of the second vehicle was transported to the hospital for evaluation. The third driver was reportedly uninjured.

The identity of the crash victim is being withheld until family is notified. The traffic officer reported the driver was wearing a seatbelt.

The Montana Highway Patrol cited several other crashes causing injuries and traffic delays for commuters in Flathead County on Wednesday.

A two-vehicle crash at 11:22 a.m. on Montana 35 caused a full road blockage before traffic was diverted, according to the Montana Department of Transportation. The incident occurred at the intersection of Highway 35 and Many Lakes Drive south of Creston.

The Montana Highway Patrol reported another crash on U.S. 2 at Evergreen Drive just before 11 a.m. Troopers also responded to incidents involving a hit-and-run, a jack-knife and slide-offs.

Reporter Breeana Laughlin can be reached at 758-4441 or blaughlin@dailyinterlake.com.