Marion woman killed in accident near Kootenai Falls

A freak accident involving a deer on Highway 2 claimed the life of a 50-year-old Marion woman on Friday morning east of Kootenai Falls between Libby and Troy.

Pamela Rae Angle died from fatal injuries she sustained in the accident when a deer went through the windshield of her pickup and out the back window after bouncing off a vehicle that was traveling in the opposite direction.

George Cowart, 54, of Troy was traveling east on Highway 2 in a 1991 Subaru Legacy passenger car when he struck a white-tailed deer that ran onto the road directly in front of him. At that moment, Angle was heading west in a 1997 Ford F-250 pickup.

According to Sgt. Duane Bowers of Montana Highway Patrol, the impact forced the deer into the path of Angle’s vehicle. The front portion of the deer went through the windshield and out the back window.

Two passengers in her vehicle were transported by Libby Emergency Medical Services to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital where they were treated for injuries.

The accident occurred at 7:50 a.m. at milepost 21.3 just east of Kootenai Falls.

Cowart was not injured.

Bowers reported that all involved were wearing seatbelts.