Fiery crash kills one at Swan Lake

The Daily Inter Lake

Two people reportedly ran for their lives into Swan Lake after a fiery car crash Monday night on Montana 83. One did not survive; the other was said to be in critical condition at press time.

The accident was reported at about 7 p.m. in Lake County.

According to preliminary reports, a Subaru rolled or flipped into a ditch off the east side of the highway. A five-gallon gas can may have started an intense fire in the vehicle, which stopped after hitting a large rock.

The two occupants of the vehicle reportedly crossed the highway and guardrail and plunged down a 50-foot embankment to the water. Evidence at the scene suggests they were both badly burned as they crashed toward the lake.

The Flathead County Dive Team was called to help rescuers at the scene.

Dive Team commander and Flathead County Sheriff's deputy Corp. Jordan White said one of the occupants was found almost immediately. He was treated by Bigfork Ambulance and was flown by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center for treatment of reportedly life-threatening injuries.

The other occupant, also burned, was found dead in the lake, White said.

A diver with Swan Mission Search and Rescue found the victim in about 22 feet of water, White said. White helped recover the victim's body from water about 13 feet deep.

The fire from the vehicle ignited foliage in the area. It spread up the bank from the wreckage about 24 feet. It was extinguished without problems.

Among the other agencies that responded to the crash were Ferndale and Swan Lake fire departments and Lake County officials.

The identities of the people involved were unknown at press time.

The vehicle was so badly burned that the license plate was incinerated.