KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — Two people from the Ogden, Utah, Forest Service station who were reported killed in a plane crash on Monday emerged alive from rugged Montana wilderness Wednesday, authorities said.
The two U.S. Forest Service employees reached a highway after making their way on foot for miles through mountains in northwestern Montana, said Denise Germann, a spokeswoman for the Flathead National Forest. Three others died in the crash.
"It's just an unbelievable miracle. You look at that crash site, that wreckage, you'd never believe anyone could have survived," said Flathead County Sheriff Jim Dupont.
Dupont had said Tuesday that it appeared all five people on board the small plane died on impact. Jodee Hogg, 23, of Billings, and Matthew Ramige, 29, of Jackson Hole, Wyo., were spotted by a motorist Wednesday afternoon, Germann said.
Hogg was listed in stable condition at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Ramige was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for burn treatment.
Jim Long, 60, of Kalispell was piloting the plane. Also on board were Ken Good, 58, of Whitefish, an employee of the Flathead National Forest, and Davita Bryant, 32, of Whitefish.