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ATV driver who died in a crash involving a logging truck has been identified

Happened on Highway 2 near Wishert Road in Columbia Falls
Posted at 10:39 AM, Nov 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-13 16:20:45-05

KALISPELL — Authorities in the Flathead have identified Louis Welle as the man who died in a crash involving a logging truck on Friday.

Welle, 64 years old, was from Columbia Falls.

Trooper Laramie Stefani with the Montana Highway Patrol says it happened at about 2 p.m. on US Highway 2, about three miles south of the intersection with US Highway 40.

The ATV was on the shoulder of the road and for some reason the driver did a U-turn in front of the logging truck; the driver of the truck tried avoiding the collision, but tipped and hit the ATV.

Welle died at the scene.

The truck driver was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries, which are not believed to have been life-threatening.

The MHP says that alcohol and drugs are not believed to have been factors, and is continuing to investigate.