Havre pedestrian hit by car is recovering

An elderly victim of a pedestrian-motor vehicle accident last week in Havre is recovering in a Great Falls hospital.

Clark Banks was moved out of intensive care Tuesday and is now in recovery in Benefis East, said Lylas McCormick. McCormick, of Kremlin, provides care for Banks at the Eagles Manor Retirement Apartments.

"He's got a couple of broken bones, a broken leg and a broken arm," McCormick said.

Banks had the dubious honor of celebrating his 77th birthday in the hospital's intensive care unit Monday.

Havre police Capt. Mike Barthel said the accident occurred at 6:15 p.m. Nov. 27 at the intersection of Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue.

No citations have been issued, and the accident is still under investigation, Barthel said.

A Havre ambulance crew transported Banks to Northern Montana Hospital, and he was transferred to Benefis East in Great Falls, McCormick said.

Banks, originally from Kremlin, moved into Eagles Manor in February 2001, she said.

Pat Anderson, a staffer of Eagles Manor, said Banks is very friendly to everyone there.

Margaret Loranger, an acquaintance, said she has been very concerned since she heard Banks was injured. He is a very nice, friendly man, who often goes to events at the North Central Senior Citizens Center, she said.

McCormick said one of Banks' favorite things to do is visit with the Havre firefighters.

"He'd been a volunteer firefighter for a long, long time," she said.

McCormick said she has not heard any information about when Banks might be released. It will take a couple of months for his broken bones to heal, she added.