Hungry Horse News

A 20-year-old Columbia Falls man died of head trauma Sunday evening in a car accident.

According to Flathead Sheriff's Department coroner Brad Stahlberg, Branden Frey was driving north on Helena Flats Road near the Pressentine Bar access when he lost control of his compact car as he drove through a curve. His car went front first into a ditch and flipped end-over-end several times.

Frey, who was not wearing his seat belt, was ejected from the car. He was dead when ALERT arrived, Stahlberg said.

Alcohol was not involved, Stahlberg said, but Frey was likely driving above the speed limit.

There were three male passengers in the vehicle at the time. All were wearing seat belts. Two had minor scrapes and one went to Kalispell Regional Medical Center but was later released.

Witnesses said they couldn't tell exactly why the vehicle went off the road, Stahlberg said. Road conditions were good and the sky was clear.