2 injured in rollover while testing pickup for Fourth parade

Two Kalispell men were taken to the hospital after the Ford F-250 pickup they were traveling in crashed on Montana 35 late Tuesday afternoon near Creston.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David Mills, a 29-year-old man who was driving and the 21-year-old passenger were both conscious when they were taken from the scene by ambulances from Evergreen Fire Rescue and Bigfork Fire Department.

Mills said the men were testing the brakes of the older-model, green and white truck when the driver lost control and it rolled off the right side of the road as it traveled north near mile-marker 40. They apparently had plans to have the truck in the Fourth of July parade in Bigfork.

Trooper Mills said neither of the truck’s occupants were wearing seat belts. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash.

Firefighters from the Creston Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.