A Columbia Falls teenager and standout member of the girls cross country team received multiple broken bones and internal injuries after the driver of an allegedly stolen vehicle collided with her car at the at the intersection of Highway 206 and Highway 2 Jan. 9. 

According to a release by the Columbia Falls Police Department, at about 8:42 p.m. the Flathead County Sheriff's Office took a stolen vehicle report from the area of Highway 2 and East Reserve Road in Evergreen. The stolen vehicle, a Dodge Durango, was last reported driving north on Highway 2. At approximately 8:51 p.m., a Columbia Falls Police Department officer located the stolen Durango driving East on Highway 2 near Nucleus Avenue driving recklessly weaving through traffic and speeding.  

Two Columbia Falls officers attempted to stop the stolen Durango. After activating their vehicles' emergency lights and sirens, the stolen Durango accelerated and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The Durango continued east on Highway 2 reaching speeds of between 75 and 80 mph. 

At the intersection of Highways 2 and 206 the stolen Durango struck another vehicle turning west onto Highway 2 from 206. Both vehicles came to a rest in the intersection.  

The driver of the stolen vehicle, Alfred Chester Paul Flamond, 34, who has lived in Hungry Horse, Browning and Cut Bank, was taken into custody at the scene. 

He was previously known to law enforcement. 

He faces he faces charges of theft, aggravated fleeing and eluding and criminal endangerment. He is being held in the Flathead County Detention Center. 

The vehicle that was struck by the stolen Durango was driven by Hazel Alexander, a junior at Columbia Falls High School. She was transported to Logan Health in Kalispell and later transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, where she has had multiple surgeries to repair numerous injuries according to family posts on social media. 

In fall of 2025 she was the top runner for the girls cross country team, taking 20th at the state A championship. 

“Hazel is one of those humans that everywhere she goes she lights up the room,” Columbia Falls cross country coach Jim Peacock said. 

He recalled her grit and determination when she first started running for the Wildcat track team as a freshman. She wasn’t the fastest runner by far, but she worked hard. As a sophomore she improved greatly and just kept running through the summer. 

“She came into cross country as a totally different runner and led the team by last season,” he said. “... She’s one of those kids that leads by example.” 

Peacock said her team members have expressed the gamut of emotions from shocked and angry to compassion for their teammate, as Alexander has a long road to recovery. 

Community members have started a Give Send Go campaign to raise money for her treatment. The link is here: https://givesendgo.com/HazelAlexander?utm_source=sharelink&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=HazelAlexander

Peacock said he had great admiration for the community of Columbia Falls and how it steps up to help people in need. 

The Montana Highway Patrol is conducting the collision investigation. The Flathead County Sheriff's Office is conducting the vehicle theft investigation. The Columbia Falls Police Department is investigating the eluding and crimes resulting from the collision. 

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is urged to call the Flathead County 911 center at 406-758-5585 and request to speak with Det. Craig McConnell. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family,” Columbia Falls Police Chief Chad Stephens said in a release. 

This story was updated on Jan. 12 to include the name of the alleged stolen vehicle driver and quotes from coach Peacock.

    Alfred Chester Paul Flamond