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Ryan Patrick Nicholas Lefthand

Age : 35

Gender : Male

Race : Native American

Date : 05/28/2021

Location : U.S. Highway 93 near mile marker 48, just north of Lake’s Corner

City : Pablo

County : Lake

State : Montana

Agency : Lake County Sheriff’s Office

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: Lake County sheriff’s deputy attempted a DUI traffic stop, escalated a pursuit that ended in crash and death of bystander.

NARRATIVE:
On 05/28/2021, 35-year-old Ryan Patrick Nicholas Lefthand of Ronan was killed when a Jeep fleeing from a Lake County sheriff’s deputy crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into his Chrysler 300M on U.S. Highway 93 just north of Lake’s Corner near Pablo, Montana.
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Shortly after midnight, a Lake County sheriff’s deputy stopped the Jeep in Polson on suspicion that its driver was intoxicated. When the deputy asked the driver to get out of the vehicle, she drove away southbound on U.S. Highway 93. The deputy followed but police alleged the deputy lost sight of the Jeep near north Pablo.
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Flathead Tribal Police subsequently observed the Jeep passing the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes complex at more than 100 mph. The vehicle continued south toward Lake’s Corner.
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At approximately 12:20 a.m., near mile marker 48, the southbound Jeep crossed onto the northbound side of the divided highway and struck Lefthand’s northbound Chrysler head-on at high speed. Lefthand was alone in his vehicle and was killed at the scene. The 18-year-old driver of the Jeep survived with serious injuries and was transported to a hospital.
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The Montana Highway Patrol investigated the collision, while the Lake County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office investigated Lefthand’s death. Lake County Sheriff Don Bell publicly identified Lefthand shortly after the crash.
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Lefthand was born on 11/14/1985 in Kalispell and attended Two Eagle River School in Pablo. He was married to Brandy Mahkuk and was the father of six children. His obituary remembered his love of music, hiking and hunting and his unusual talent for hacky sack, as well as his collections of Star Notes and Mario Coins.
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Following his death, Lefthand’s wake, rosary and funeral were held at Koostahtah Hall in Elmo, and he was buried at Dayton Cemetery.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the deputy who initiated the traffic stop and followed the fleeing vehicle.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://leaderadvertiser.com/news/2021/may/28/ronan-man-killed-head-crash-south-pablo/
https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2021/may/28/ronan-man-killed-crash-south-pablo/
https://www.kxlf.com/news/crash-involving-dui-suspect-kills-ronan-man
https://www.kbzk.com/news/crash-involving-dui-suspect-kills-ronan-man
https://hilinetoday.com/ronan-man-killed-in-two-vehicle-crash/
https://leaderadvertiser.com/news/2021/aug/02/ryan-patrick-nicholas-lefthand-35/
https://www.lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com/obituaries?page=49