Community leader killed in accident on Highway 2 in Coram
HILARY MATHESON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 weeks, 2 days AGO
EDUCATION REPORTER Hilary Matheson covers education for the Daily Inter Lake. Her reporting focuses on schools, students, and the policies that shape public education across Northwest Montana. Matheson regularly reports on school boards, district decisions and issues affecting teachers and families. Her work examines how funding, enrollment and state policy influence local school systems. She helps readers understand how education decisions affect students and communities throughout the region. IMPACT: Hilary’s work provides transparency and insight into the schools that serve thousands of local families. | June 10, 2026 8:10 AM
A 74-year-old woman died and a 19-year-old woman was injured in a crash on U.S. 2 in Coram on June 3.
The deceased was later identified as Vicki Byrd Rinck.
Both women were from Coram.
Montana Highway Patrol responded to the scene at 11:55 a.m., where a two-vehicle crash was reported at mile marker 146.
According to a Montana Highway Patrol crash report, Byrd Rinck was driving a Subaru Outback and was turning out onto U.S. 2 from a convenience store when the Toyota Tacoma, driven by the 19-year-old and headed westbound on the inside lane, T-boned the Outback.
The 19-year-old, who was not wearing her seat belt, was transported to Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, according to the report. Byrd Rinck was wearing her seat belt, but died at the scene, according to the report.
Road conditions were dry. Troopers did not suspect alcohol, drugs or speed as contributing factors in the crash, the report stated.
An obituary for Byrd Rinck is in the newspaper. The family is well known in the Columbia Falls and Canyon communities and was often a bright shining force at meetings and other events.
Her daughter, Cecilia is a teacher at the Columbia Falls Junior High.
Chris Peterson contributed to this report.
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