Woman, 82, dies in crash on Montana 40

A Whitefish woman was killed in a crash on Montana 40 at Dillon Road Thursday afternoon when her vehicle spun out of control and collided with a dump truck on icy roads.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Doris Field, 82. Field was driving eastbound on Montana 40 around 4 p.m. when her Toyota Camry crossed the center line and was struck by a westbound dump truck.

The drivers of the vehicles traveling behind those involved in the fatal crash collided trying to avoid the scene, causing a separate crash immediately after, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.

Field was pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, according to Highway Patrol trooper Doug Underwood.

The driver of the dump truck, a 66-year-old man from Columbia Falls, and his passenger were reportedly uninjured.

All occupants involved in the crash were wearing a seatbelt. Alcohol or drug impairment is not being considered a factor. The Camry was traveling at a rate of speed that was too fast for the winter road conditions, according to the trooper.

The two vehicles traveling behind the accident T-boned as the drivers attempted to avoid the collision in front of them, said Underwood. The occupants of a white Chevy Yukon and a black Cadillac Escalade were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries as a result of this crash, he said.

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