Bigfork Eagle

A spokesman for U.S. Congressman Denny Rehberg confirmed that he broke his left ankle in a Thursday night boating accident on Flathead Lake near Bigfork.

Erik Iverson told reporters that Rehberg was in surgery to repair his broken ankle on Friday afternoon at about 4 p.m. and that the congressman also sustained cuts and bruises on his face and "quite a bump on the head."The accident took place about 100 yards south of the Wayfarer's State Park boat dock at around 10:20 p.m. Thursday. State Senator Greg Barkus was also injured in the crash.

Iverson confirmed that Dustin Frost and Kristin Smith were the two Rehberg staffers that were on board during the accident, though he was unable to comment on the condition of anyone but the congressman.

"He's currently undergoing surgery and expected to make a full recovery," he said of Rehberg.

Iverson didn't have any details about the circumstances surrounding the Thursday night crash, except to say that Rehberg was a passenger in the boat, not driving.

Iverson did say that Rehberg gave a statement to investigators concerning the crash Friday morning, though he did not know what that statement was.

Keep checking www.bigforkeagle.com and the Sept. 3 edition of the Eagle for more on this story.