10 teenagers in 1 vehicle hit tree
September 24, 2007
Ten teenagers in one vehicle collided with one tree early Saturday morning about 1 am.
The 1979 Blazer was driven by Lucus Lampton, 19, of Libby. Lampton plowed straight through the intersection of Lower Granite Creek and Granite Creek road. According to the Montana Highway Patrol, Lampton hit a tree dead on at 45-mile per hour.
It appeared that the group was headed back to town from a kegger.
All ten teens, 5 girls, 5 boys, ages 16 to 19, were transported to St Johns Hospital in Libby. It took six ambulances to make the transports.
The most seriously injured, Kortney Fitzgerald, 16, was transported to Kalispell Regional Medical Center where she was reported in stable condition Sunday evening. Her injuries are reportedly severe and multiple.
Two others were detained at St. Johns, but by Sunday evening had been released. The others suffered less serious injuries.
Emergency Room doctors and staff were called in from their homes in the middle of the night to deal with this large-scale emergency.
"The job that all of our local emergency services personnel did, both paid and volunteer, was exceptional," said Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant Duane Bowers. We are very fortunate to have such a good group of dedicated individuals in our community," he said.
Speed, alcohol and lack of seatbelts were factors in the accident.
Charges are pending, undoubtedly against Lampton for multiple counts, and most likely against all the occupants, for minors in possession.
The community somehow managed to escape enduring the tragedy of funerals for ten of its teenagers later this week.
Story by KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com
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