Authorities say speed was a factor in a fiery crash Thursday afternoon that left two people dead on U.S. 2 near Columbia Falls.

According to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Jerry Ren, a 27-year-old Kalispell man was driving a 2008 Chevy Silverado pickup when his vehicle crossed into the southbound lane north of Glacier Park International Airport and collided head-on with another pickup. Both vehicles were fully engulfed in flames when first-responders arrived on the scene near Sunny Lane at about 4:20 p.m.

“What we know from witnesses is that the man had been driving erratically before the crash and he was driving as fast as 95 miles per hour,” Trooper Ren said. “He crossed over into the south lane and there was no braking.”

The speed limit is 65 mph on the stretch of highway.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office identified the other driver as 56-year-old Linda M. Turner, of Sumter, South Carolina. She was driving a rental vehicle, a 2018 Ford F150 pickup.

“She was on her way to meet her family,” Ren said. “It’s just a terrible situation.”

Sheriff Chuck Curry said the name of the 27-year-old man will be released when his family is notified.

The highway was shut down while first-responders were on the scene Thursday. Firefighters from Columbia Falls extinguished the vehicle fires, while firefighters from Columbia Falls and Evergreen conducted traffic control.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker can be reached at (406) 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.