Vehicle crashes into irrigation canal
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CHARLO — After rounding Palmer’s Corner, a vehicle drifted off U.S. Highway 212 and drove 100 yards before hitting an embankment and crashing into the Post C Irrigation Canal outside of Charlo on Friday at 10:30 a.m.
The driver of the vehicle, Darbie Lynn Morigeau, 49, of Polson sustained minor injuries and was conscious when her car hit the water, enabling her to contact emergency response.
But due to tire markings in the ditch, law enforcement officials suspect that she was sleeping when she drove her gray Nissan Rogue Sports Utility Vehicle off the road.
“At no point did she ever make any attempt to get back on the road,” Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Shad Andersen said. He explained that normally the driver’s first instinct is to swerve back onto the road, but in this instance the wheel markings indicated otherwise.
Morigeau was probably driving about 60-65 miles per hour when she rounded Palmer’s Corner. The 90-degree turn comes after four miles of straight road, and many drivers take the turn too quickly. Andersen claims that the majority of wrecks on U.S. Highway 212 happen at the corner.
After calling law enforcement officials, Morgieau remained conscious for the entirety of the emergency response operation. She was wearing her seat belt and air bags were deployed upon impact. The Charlo Emergency Medical Technicians and the Charlo/Moiese Volunteer Fire Department managed to lift Morigeau out of the car without the need of a Jaws of Life, and she was carried by stretcher to the waiting ambulance.
The EMTs transported her to St. Luke Community Hospital for further examination and law enforcement officials requested a blood draw to rule out any drug or alcohol influence in the incident, Andersen said.
A wrecker was used to pull the partially-submerged vehicle from the canal. Andersen noted the vehicle had some undercarriage damage and minor damage to the front end.
Montana Highway Patrol, Lake County Sheriff’s deputy, Salish and Kootenai Tribal Police, Charlo/Moiese Volunteer Fire Department, Ronan Ambulance and Charlo Emergency Medical Technicians all responded to the call.
