ARLEE — A three-vehicle accident outside of Arlee claimed the lives of two people Monday afternoon, including Polson resident Marlin Brackney, and alcohol was a factor, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.

Gerald Littlehead, 42, was heading southbound on Hwy. 93 a few miles south of Arlee when he crossed into the northbound lane and struck another vehicle head-on at about 2:50 p.m., according to MHP officer Roman Zylawy.

Littlehead's Ford Taurus struck a Toyota Corolla driven by Betty Brackney, and the passenger side of her vehicle received most of the impact, killing her husband, Marlin, Zylawy said.

Littlehead, who is from Washington but was staying with a friend in Ronan, was also killed, and Zylawy said it appears he had alcohol in his system.

"Alcohol was involved. It was definitely a factor," Zylawy said.

He said Littlehead was driving south near the intersection at Mountain Home Drive where the road goes from two to three lanes. Although there are two southbound lanes there, Littlehead drifted into the sole northbound lane, hitting the Brackneys.

Almost immediately, Littlehead's Taurus bounced back into oncoming traffic and was broadsided by a minivan driven by Gary Granley of Ronan. Granley, 61, and his wife Norma, 60, were taken to St. Patrick Hospital were they were listed in serious but stable condition.

Zylawy said there was nothing Granley could have done to avoid hitting Littlehead's vehicle.

"It was almost instantaneous," Zylawy said of the sequence of events.

At the scene, Gary Granley told Zylawy he was wearing his seatbelt, but wasn't sure if Norma was. Family members later said Norma was also wearing her seatbelt, and Zylawy said bruising and other marks could corroborate that.

Zylawy said it is believed that both Brackneys were also wearing their seatbelts, but that he is still investigating that. Both the driver's side and passenger side airbags deployed in their Corolla, he said, but the impact on the side of the vehicle was too great.

Zylawy said results of toxicology tests performed on Littlehead by the state crime lab would be made available to the families involved later this month.