KALISPELL – Two people are dead after a late night incident on Highway 93 in the Flathead.
The Kalispell Police Department reports that at approximately 9:45 p.m. an officer stopped a vehicle on Highway 93 just north of West Reserve.
The officer briefly made contact with a male and female inside the vehicle, but the driver then fled from the scene and a brief pursuit followed.
Stop sticks were eventually put out and the vehicle — which has Oregon license plates — slowly left Highway 93 at the intersection with Bowdish Road.
Officers attempted to contact the people in the vehicle before approaching it and finding both occupants dead from what are initially believed to be gunshot wounds, according to a news release.
Kalispell Police are still working to identify the two occupants of the vehicle and the investigation has been turned over to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
No officer firearms were discharged during the incident.
We will have more information on this developing story as it becomes available.
-Mark Thorsell reporting for MTN News
(first report: 7.24.19)
COLUMBIA FALLS: Flathead valley law enforcement are on the scene investigating an active crime scene late Wednesday night.
Flathead County deputies, Kalispell Police officers and the Montana Highway Patrol are working an active crime scene on US Highway 93 between Meadow Lane and Hodgson near Columbia Falls.
Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino told MTN News on Wednesday night that the crime scene was set up after a short pursuit.
Sheriff Heino said he was en route to the scene and couldn’t provide specific details but did confirm officers were not injured in the incident. He also added there is no current threat to the public.
The highway will be closed as this scene is processed. Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes until law enforcement has finished processing this scene.
-Melissa Rafferty reporting for MTN News
