Black ice a factor in fatal accident on U.S. 2 at McGregor Lake

A husband and wife from Kalispell died after being ejected from a vehicle on U.S. 2 at McGregor Lake early Tuesday morning.

A 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser was traveling westbound down a hill with a left curve when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, according to Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David Mills.

The roads appeared to clear, but black ice was present on the roadway at the time of the crash, Mills said.

It appears the driver attempted to regain control several times after hitting the black ice, but the vehicle slid off the northern corner of the road at 1:33 a.m. Tuesday, the trooper said.

The vehicle, which contained three adult males and three adult females, rolled and struck several trees. A 31-year-old man and 33-year-old woman were reportedly ejected from a third-row seat of the vehicle and died on scene.

The other four passengers were all sent to Kalispell Regional Medical Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, said Mills.

Five of the six passengers were related, he noted. All of the vehicle’s occupants are reportedly from Kalispell.

The man and woman who were killed were not wearing seat belts, according to Mills. The driver was not speeding at the time of the crash, and alcohol is not determined to be a factor, he added.

The names of the victims are being withheld until family is notified.