Washington couple injured in accident

A Washington couple was seriously injured Thursday morning after striking a deer on their motorcycle as they traveled on Highway 2 south of Libby.

Jerry Swallow, 57, is recovering after being hospitalized at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, but his wife, Kathryn Swallow, 55, was still in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Kalispell Regional Medical Center as of Monday, hospital sources said.

The Arlington, Wash. couple was traveling north toward Libby when a deer darted in their path. The motorcycle struck the deer head-on near Break Road, four miles south of town, throwing the two from the bike, according to Bob Hensley of Montana Highway Patrol.

David Edwards, a nurse, responded because he was near the scene at the time of the accident. Dr. Jay Maloney and paramedic Jay Moody also responded, along with Penny Kyes of Libby Volunteer Ambulance.

The couple was transported to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. The woman was then airlifted to Kalispell.

“They (the victims) were doing everything right – they had leathers on, they had helmets,” Kyes said, “but they had some serious injuries.”

Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the accident, Hensley said.