Libby MHP trooper injured in vehicle accident

A Libby Montana Highway Patrol trooper was injured on Monday in a two-vehicle crash involving a semi tractor-trailer.

Trooper Bryce Ford was responding to a one vehicle crash at 9:15 p.m. on U.S. Highway 2 near milepost 47.5, approximately 14 1/2 miles east of Libby. The highway was covered with glare ice and it was raining heavily.

As Ford arrived on scene of the crash and came to a stop, a westbound United Parcel Service truck driven by Brett Bennetts, 37, of Kalispell, arrived at the scene from the east.

Bennetts attempted to slow down but lost control of his semi on the glare ice road conditions.

The semi fishtailed several times, then began to jackknife and it struck the front of Ford's patrol car with the center portion of the trailer. Ford was in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

After pushing Ford's vehicle off the roadway, the semi nearly struck several emergency service personnel and bystanders before coming to a stop.

Ford was treated for minor shoulder injuries and released from St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby. Bennetts was not injured in the crash.

Both occupants were wearing seatbelts.

"This could have been really bad," said Sgt. Duane Bowers, MHP-135/Libby, who is investigating the incident. "By deflecting the truck with his vehicle he probably saved some people."

Ford is at home and in good shape, Bowers added.