GREAT FALLS, Mont. — A strech of highway east of Great Falls has been re-named in honor of a Mercy Flight paramedic who died in a plane crash near Manhattan in February.
The Paul J. Erickson Highway stretches for 18 miles on U.S. Highway 89, between Armington Junction east of Belt and the top of Monarch Canyon.
Erickson died in the crash along with pilot Vince Kirol and flight nurse Darcy Dengel.
Erickson’s father, Lynn Erickson, says the highway is intended to honor all Montana first responders.
Lynn Erickson says he chose the stretch of highway near Belt because his son spent a lot of time on the highway as a volunteer EMT while he was in high school.