Thompson Falls man dies in truck crash

A Thompson Falls man died Sunday evening after his truck went off the Prospect Creek Road.

According to Montana Highway Patrol, the 71-year-old man was driving a 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck north on the road a few miles outside Thompson Falls when he failed to negotiate a left-hand curve, drove off the right side of the road and struck a small post.

The truck then traveled down a small embankment, struck a power pole support wire, then continued further down the slope, overturned and struck several trees.

Drugs and alcohol are suspected factors in the crash and the man was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Road conditions were described as bare and dry.