Two teenagers are dead and several other people injured after three crashes that occurred within a span of less than two hours Friday morning.

Shortly after 10 a.m., a southbound Nissan Sentra driven by 18-year-old Mercy Peterson of Columbia Falls crossed the center turn lane, striking a northbound minivan just south of Glacier Park International Airport, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

Undersheriff Dave Leib said the driver of the van was extricated and taken to the hospital by ambulance in stable condition. A passenger in the van was not injured.

Peterson was pronounced dead at the scene, while his 17-year-old passenger Kayli Mercedes Wagoner of Columbia Falls was transported by ALERT helicopter to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Wagoner underwent emergency surgery but died at the hospital Friday afternoon.

Traffic in both directions on the highway was temporarily shut down by the accident, with directed single-lane traffic opened at about 11 a.m. and all lanes open by 12:10 p.m.

Peterson was attending the Columbia Falls School District 6 Learning Center, where he was working toward graduation, and previously had attended Glacier High School. He had worked at Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Kalispell.

“He worked great,” Five Guys general manager Brandi Blair said of Peterson. “Everyone enjoyed working with him. He was a really good kid.”

Glacier Park International Airport emergency responders were the first on the scene and were later joined by Evergreen Fire Rescue, Three Rivers EMS, ALERT, the Montana Highway Patrol, and the Sheriff’s Office.

Names of the remaining victims have not been released, and the crash remains under investigation. The trooper in charge of the investigation was not available for comment.

Another pair of accidents left motorists injured in the south end of the county.

At about 9:20 a.m., a pickup truck pulling out of a gas station on U.S. 93 was T-boned as it crossed U.S. 93 eastbound on Montana 82, rolling the truck onto its side.

According to Trooper John Underwood, the pickup had the green light and was crossing legally when a motorist southbound on U.S. 93 failed to notice the red light and drove through at full speed, striking the driver’s side of the pickup.

Neither occupant of the pickup was wearing a seat belt, but they sustained only minor injuries and did not require medical treatment.

A passenger in the other vehicle complained of lower back pain and was transported to the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. The driver was cited.

At 10:45 a.m., a woman drove her vehicle off Angel Point Road and into a tree near Lakeside.

Rick Mehring of the Highway Patrol said it is possible alcohol was involved, but it was “more likely prescription drugs.”

The woman was walking back to her home when an ambulance crew arrived, examined her and kept her at the scene until Mehring arrived.

The woman was cited before being transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Reporter Jesse Davis may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at jdavis@dailyinterlake.com.