Fiery crash near Creston
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 6 months AGO
Three people died in a fiery head-on collision on Montana 35 in the Creston area.
Montana Highway Patrol was dispatched to the scene of Montana 35 and Indian Ridge Road at 10:57 p.m. Saturday where a Kalispell man and a Dayton-area woman and her daughter were all killed in the crash.
They were later identified as Abigail Johnson, 14, her mother, Melodi Johnson, 42 and Kevin Hunt, 28, from Kalispell.
An injured 14-year-old Dayton girl, who was one of the passengers in the Johnson vehicle, was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition.
According to Montana Highway Patrol, Hunt was driving a 2005 GMC Sierra 2500 northbound on Montana 35 when he crossed the centerline for an unknown reason into the southbound lane, hitting a 2016 Dodge Caravan being driven by Melodi Johnson head-on. The GMC caught fire after the crash and became engulfed in flames. The Dodge came to a rest in the center of the roadway, facing south.
It was unknown if Hunt was wearing his seat belt, according to troopers. Abigail Johnson and Melodi Johnson were wearing their seat belts.
Road conditions were dry. Speed is a suspected factor in the crash.
There have been 39 traffic fatalities on Montana highways in 2021.
This story has been updated to reflect the names of the victims.
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