2 killed in fiery crash on U.S. 2

A fatal head-on crash shut down U.S. 2 north of Glacier Park International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

According to Flathead County Undersheriff Dave Lieb, both drivers of the pickups were killed. Their identities were not immediately known.

It appeared that one pickup that was headed north toward Columbia Falls crossed into the path of a smaller pickup that was headed south.

Lieb said there were reports of the eastbound pickup driving erratically before the crash, but he didn’t know if alcohol was a factor or a medical condition had something to do with the crash.

A witness at the scene said another person reported that neither truck hit the brakes before the collision.

The crash was reported at 4:21 p.m. in front of Flathead Homes.

According to scanner traffic, both pickups were fully engulfed in flames when first-responders arrived on the scene. A water tender was called to assist in fighting the vehicle fires, which spread to a grassy area off the west berm.

Both southbound and northbound lanes were closed as of 5:30 p.m. and a detour was in place at Conn Road through the Peterbilt parking lot, according to a Montana Department of Transportation notice.

Montana Highway Patrol Troopers and members of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office were investigating the crash scene. Officers from Columbia Falls Police Department were also on the scene.

Firefighters from Columbia Falls extinguished the fire while firefighters from Columbia and Evergreen conducted traffic control.