Three-car accident on Highway 200
<p>A 1998 Dodge Ram that was involved in the accident on Highway 200 outside of the "Trophy Taker" in Plains.</p>
A Dodge Ram stuck two vehicles outside of “Trophy Taker” in Plains. The accident occurred on Highway 200 toward Thompson Falls at 4:08 p.m. on April 12.
According to Montana Highway Patrol officer Shawn Smalley, there was a line of vehicles facing eastbound with the front vehicle planning to take a left into “Trophy Taker” parking area. The front vehicle was waiting for a line of westbound vehicles to clear the area. During this time, the 1998 Dodge Ram drove up on the stopped cars. The driver of the Dodge Ram thought the cars were moving slowly and didn’t realize they were stopped.
“The driver misjudged the speed and ended up veering into the oncoming lane,” said Smalley.
The Dodge sideswiped two vehicles in different traffic lanes. The Dodge hit a 1983 Ford Ranger that was heading eastbound, and an AmeriGas Service Truck that was coming westbound. No one involved in the accident was seriously injured.
The driver of the Doge Ram had one male passenger while the driver of the AmeriGas was an older male driving by himself. The driver of the Ford Ranger was Plains resident Linda Vandehey. She was driving by herself when the accident occurred.
“If he would’ve hit me from behind, I wouldn’t be taking to you right now,” said Vandehey.