Boat crash claims life of man, 27, from Whitefish

The Daily Inter Lake

The man killed in a Fourth of July boating accident on Flathead Lake has been identified as Travis Wickum of Whitefish.

Wickum, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene with "massive trauma" injuries, Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said Monday.

His wife, who has not been identified, was injured and taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Wickum and his wife were in a 17-foot boat that was "T-boned" by a 19-foot boat traveling about 20 mph, Meehan said, reading from the county coroners report.

The boat did not sink.

Matt Heaton, the investigating warden for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said he cannot yet confirm whether the boats had lights on as required by law.

"We're going through the boat and still sorting out the evidence," Heaton said, noting that no citations have been issued.