Wednesday morning accident victims identified

The Western News

The victims in a fatal accident claiming the lives of two Libby residents were named on Friday by Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Duane Bowers.

Kenneth Eugene Walton, Jr., 22, of Libby, the driver of the 2007 Dodge pick-up truck, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Hannah Rose Wallace, 21, of Troy, was a passenger in the vehicle and was also ejected and died at the scene.

The accident occurred in the early morning on U.S. Highway 2 near milepost 61, just west of Manicke Church. The approximate time of the crash was 3:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

The other passenger, Jacob Israel Lisle, 28, remains in critical condition at Kalispell Regional Hospital.

The vehicle was traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 2 toward Libby at a speed too fast for the existing ice coated road conditions. Walton lost control of the vehicle as it entered the right hand corner just west of Manicke Church.

The vehicle rotated 180 degrees counter-clockwise, crossed the opposite traffic lane and slid up the steep embankment on the south side of the highway. The vehicle then rolled several times into the woods where it struck several trees before coming to rest.

All three occupants were not wearing seatbelts and as a result, were fully ejected from the vehicle.

Excessive speeds on icy road conditions, alcohol use and no seatbelts were all contributing factors in this crash, Bowers said.

This is the second driving under the influence related crash in two months that has injured a total of 11 local area young adults and killed two.

Bowers strongly urges all parents that have children who are driving to talk to them about the danger and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and about not using seatbelts.