Authorities ID woman killed after fall through skylight
DERRICK PERKINS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years AGO
NEWS EDITOR Derrick Perkins serves as News Editor at the Daily Inter Lake. He oversees daily news coverage and works closely with reporters to plan, edit and publish stories across print and digital platforms. Perkins helps coordinate coverage of local government, public safety, business and community developments throughout Northwest Montana. He works with the reporting staff to strengthen journalism while maintaining consistent daily coverage. His role helps ensure the newsroom delivers timely, accurate reporting that readers rely on. IMPACT: Derrick’s work keeps readers informed about the decisions and events shaping their communities every day. | August 2, 2022 12:00 PM
Officials have identified Erika Brisendine as the 20-year-old woman who fell through a skylight at the gymnasium of the Columbia Falls High School on July 31.
Brisendine and two others had climbed to the roof of the building in the early morning hours when she plunged through a skylight, authorities said in a press release issued Monday. First responders, arriving about 2:25 a.m., offered first aid, but Brisendine succumbed to her injuries.
A GoFundMe has been set up to aid Brisendine’s family. In it, she was described as a “free spirit, full of life, love and laughter.” Along with donations, the GoFundMe asks for prayers for her friends, extended family and the first responders on scene.
Money raised will go toward funeral expenses, but any excess dollars will be rerouted to replace the gymnasium’s skylights and secure access points to the roof.
News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or [email protected].
ARTICLES BY DERRICK PERKINS
Motorist accused of hitting flagger in Whitefish construction zone
A Whitefish motorist suspected of running over the foot of a construction zone flagger in June is now up on a felony charge.
Suspect charged in brutal assault near Glacier Park International Airport last year
stry
Serio given 100-year sentence for killing a man with his car in 2025
Convicted murderer Jeffrey Scott Serio received a 100-year prison sentence Wednesday for intentionally running over and killing a Flathead Valley man in the summer of 2025.