Kila man identified as crash victim

A 38-year-old Kila man killed Sunday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash north of Olney has been identified at Christopher S. Kelly.

Kelly suffered severe neck trauma in the wreck and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Flathead County coroners.

Vehicles both in front of and behind Kelly's pickup truck had their four-way flashers on to warn other motorists of his erratic driving when the crash occurred about 1:30 p.m. Sunday near mile marker 147 on U.S. 93, according to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Lacie Alby.

Kelly had made unsafe passes, driven for extended periods in the oncoming lane of traffic and forced other drivers off onto the shoulder. He was going about 15 mph in a 70 mph zone when the other motorists boxed him in near mile marker 156, Alby said.

Authorities had received at least three complaints about Kelly's reckless driving and were responding to the area at the time of the crash.

As Kelly - who was traveling southbound - tried to pass the car in front of him, he sideswiped a northbound sport utility vehicle. Warned by the other vehicles with their flashers on, the SUV's driver had time to slow down and swerve to avoid a head-on collision, Alby said.

The two people in the SUV, who are new to the area, were taken to North Valley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Kelly, who was alone in the truck, was not wearing a seat belt.

Investigators won't know whether alcohol was involved in the crash until toxicology reports return from the state crime lab, Alby said.

Kelly is the 14th person to die this year from crashes on Flathead County highways.