Idaho Law Blog

On December 4^th a single vehicle got in a rollover crash on US12. The crash occurred at 9:39 a.m. in Orofino, Idaho, just past milepost 39.

The vehicle involved was a 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup driven by a 67-year-old man. Both him and his 67-year-old female passenger were from Orofino. As they were traveling westbound, they began to drift across the center line and into the eastbound lane. They lost control of the vehicle and the car left the roadway, rolled over, and landed in a ditch. Both occupants of the vehicle were wearing seatbelts, though they both sustained major injuries and were transported to a local hospital by ground ambulance. Some time later the man succumbed to his wounds in the hospital.

We are sorry to hear about this loss and send our condolences to the loved ones of these individuals. We hope the woman is able to make a full recovery.

Last Friday on November 29^th, two vehicles collided on US 95 in White Bird, Idaho. The crash occurred near mile post 222, and involved a 2017 Lexus, driven by a 50-year-old man from Riggins Idaho, and a 2015 Mercedes Benz, driven by a 63-year-old man, accompanied by two passengers, a 66-year-old woman and a juvenile girl.

At 9:18 p.m. the 50-year-old driver of the Lexus was traveling northbound when he veered into the other lane crossing the center line. He collided head-on with the oncoming southbound traffic, which included the occupants of the Mercedes. The resulting collision caused major injuries to all parties. The driver of the Lexus was fatally wounded and passed at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes was critically injured and taken to a local hospital by air ambulance, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The other two passengers of the Mercedes were taken to a hospital by ground ambulance. At the time of the accident, all individuals involved were wearing seatbelts.

We are sorry to hear about the loss of these two men and we send our deepest condolences to the loved ones of them both. We hope that the woman and the girl are able to make a full and timely recovery.

On November 29^th, two vehicles collided on eastbound State highway 58. The crash occurred at 12:26 p.m. in Kootenai County near milepost 1.5.

The first vehicle involved was a 2000 Honda CR-V driven by a 31-year-old man from Aberdeen Washington. He was traveling westbound and had no other passengers. The second vehicle, a 2011 Chrysler Town & Country, was driven by a 20-year-old woman from Spokane Washington. She had 3 other passengers with her, a 22-year-old woman and a 18-year-old woman both also from Spokane, and a 17-year-old man from Moscow Idaho.

At the time of the crash, the Honda was traveling westbound when he veered over the center line and crashed head on into the oncoming eastbound traffic. He collided directly with the Chrysler, causing him to sustain major injuries and pass immediately. Reports include that he was not wearing a seat belt. The passengers of the other vehicle did not sustain any critical injuries, and they were transported to a local hospital by ambulance. All occupants of this vehicle did have seatbelts on at the time of the accident.

On November 26th, a vehicle driven by a 78-year-old male with a 69-year-old female passenger struck a pedestrian. They were traveling south in a silver 2016 Honda Odyssey on US highway 95 when, at approximately 5:48 p.m, they came upon the pedestrian, a 45-year-old man from Bonners Ferry. He was attempting to cross the street outside of a designated crosswalk when he was struck.

The pedestrian sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Both passengers of the Honda were wearing seatbelts and were uninjured.

We hope that the 45-year-old man is able to make a full recovery.

In Latah County on November 25^th, a two-vehicle crash occurred at 10:38 a.m. The crash occurred on Highway 95 at the intersection of Eid Road. Two men, both from Lewiston, Idaho were involved in this accident.

The first driver, a 40-year-old man in a 2001 Ford Focus, was traveling northbound on Highway 95 when he came upon traffic caused by road construction. The second driver, a 65-year-old man driving a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado, was also traveling north near the traffic when the Ford swerved to avoid the traffic and struck his car. The Ford then left the roadway, driving off the right shoulder and down into an embankment.

The driver of the Ford sustained major injuries and was taken to a local hospital where he later passed away. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. The driver of the Chevrolet was wearing a seat belt and did not sustain any major injuries.

Idaho State Police are continuing their investigation into the three-vehicle crash that occurred on November 22^nd at 11:03 p.m. The crash took place on I-84 at the intersection of Yale Road, just outside of Burley, Idaho. The three vehicles involved include, a Penske truck driven by a 25-year-old man from Texas, a Hyundai Freightliner driven by a 49-year-old man, and a Wabash semi driven by a 33-year-old man.

At the time of the crash, the 25-year-old driving the Penske was traveling westbound on I-84. As he was driving, he began to veer off to the side, causing him to collide with the guard rail. The vehicle flipped over and came to rest in the eastbound left lane.

The second driver, the 49-year-old man driving the Hyundai, was also traveling westbound when he noticed that the previous car had left notable debris. He attempted to swerve past the debris, but lost control of the vehicle. He left the roadway and came to rest in the median.

On November 19^th, at 6:40 p.m., a two-vehicle crash occurred on State highway 41 at the intersection of W Prairie Ave in Post Falls, Idaho. The two vehicles involved include a Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 75-year-old man from Cocolalla, and a Toyota Prius driven by a 56-year-old man from Coeur d’Alene.

At the time of the accident, the 75-year-old driver of the Silverado was traveling northbound on highway 41. He came to the intersection of W Prairie Ave and failed to stop at the red light, crashing into the oncoming Prius. The driver of the Prius, the 56_year-old man, was traveling west when he crossed the intersection and was struck.

Both men were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident. The driver of the Chevrolet sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. The driver of the Prius sustained more serious injuries. He was also transported to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

On November 19^th in Idaho Falls, Idaho, two vehicles collided at the intersection of Yellowstone Highway and Iona Road at roughly 2:15 p.m. The parties involved include a 66-year-old male and a 65-year-old female from Aberdeen traveling in a 2022 Buick Enclave, and a 26-year-old female from Idaho Falls driving a 2016 Honda CR-V.

At the time of the accident, the 26-year-old woman was traveling west on Yellowstone Highway when the individuals from Aberdeen failed to yield to her. They were traveling eastbound on Iona Road and when they came to the intersection, failed to yield, and struck the other woman’s vehicle.

The driver of the Honda CR-V was not wearing a seat belt and was transported to a local hospital in an ambulance. Both the driver and the passenger in the Enclave were wearing seatbelts, and the 65-year-old woman was also transported to the hospital.

On Saturday, November 16^th, a 53-year-old man got into an accident involving only his vehicle just outside of Swan Valley. The crash occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Highway 26 around milepost 368.

At the time of the crash, the 53-year-old man, from Victor Idaho, was traveling eastbound in a 2003 GMC pickup. When he reached mile marker 368, veered off the left shoulder. He left the roadway and collided with an embankment, where he was thrown from the vehicle.

He was badly injured and passed at the scene. Idaho State Police are continuing to investigate this incident.

Idaho State Police are continuing their investigation and cleanup of an accident involving a semi and another car that occurred on November 14^th, at 11:31 a.m. The crash involved a 2013 Mazda CX-5, driven by a 21-year-old man from Carlsbad, California, and a semi driven by a 37-year-old man from Senora, Mexico.

At the time of the accident, the 21-year-old driving the Mazda, was traveling eastbound on I-84 near Declo, Idaho. The driver took exit 216 and turned south onto SH77, where he failed to yield to the oncoming semi. The driver of the semi was traveling southbound on SH77, when he attempted to swerve to avoid the car. He promptly lost control of the vehicle and went over the side of the overpass, crashing into the median below.

The driver of the semi was severely injured and was life flighted to a nearby hospital. The driver of the Mazda was not injured.