Idaho Law Blog

On April 20^th at approximately 6:15, a single motorcycle left the roadway and crashed. The accident took place in Ada County on SH21, just south of Arrow Rock Rd, at milepost 16.

At the time of the accident, the motorcycle, a 2009 Kawasaki ZG1400, was traveling northbound. As they passed mile 16, the driver, a 52-year-old man from Boise, failed to navigate a curve. He and his 46-year-old female passenger collided with the right concrete barrier and came to a stop just out of the lanes.

Both the driver and the passenger sustained major injuries. The driver was transported to a local hospital by ground ambulance, and the passenger was life-flighted to a larger hospital.

Idaho State Police are continuing to investigate a three-vehicle collision that occurred on Interstate 15 on April 19^th, 2025. The accident was caused by a standstill in traffic on the freeway while authorities cleared a road hazard. It took place on the north side of I15 at about 7:37 a.m.

Two vehicles, a black 2019 Honda Accord in front and a grey 2015 Ford Explorer behind, were stopped waiting for traffic to clear when the third vehicle, a 2009 Peterbuilt semi failed to stop and crashed into them. The 30-year-old male driver of the Honda, the 35-year-old female driver of the Ford and her juvenile passenger, and the 48-year-old male driver of the semi were all wearing seatbelts. No report is given on their condition at this time.

Unfortunately, according to Idaho Transportation Department’s crash report in 2023, 17% of all motor vehicle crashes were related to or caused by distracted driving. Of that 17%, 48 people were killed because of these accidents. Idaho Department of Transportation says that of these crashes, “failing to yield” is the largest contributing cause. Multiple vehicle crashes accounted for 72% of all motor vehicle crashes in 2023, leaving a total of 19,807 multi-vehicle crashes.

On April 14^th at 7:10 p.m., a single vehicle traveling westbound on I-84 left the roadway and crashed. The accident took place in Oneida County, south of Juniper, near mile 265. The single vehicle, a red 1997 Ford Explorer, was being driven by a 21-year-old man from Clarkston, WA, with a 21-year-old male passenger from Lewiston, ID.

As they traveled west, the rear left tire became damaged and separated from the vehicle. Without a tire, the driver was not able to control the vehicle, causing it to leave the roadway, before rolling and coming to a stop in the median.

The driver of the vehicle did not sustain any major injuries, and was not wearing a seat belt at the time. The passenger was wearing a seat belt, and was injured in the accident. He was transported to a local hospital to receive treatment.

Idaho State Police are continuing to investigate a three vehicle collision that occurred on April 14^th. The crash took place on US 95 near milepost 495, just before noon. A blue Honda Odyssey van, a blue Chevrolet GMT-400 pickup, and a Honda Ridgeline were all involved.

At the time of the accident, the first vehicle, the Honda Odyssey driven by a 33-year-old man from Spokane, Washington, was traveling southbound. As he traveled, he failed to slow in time to avoid the vehicle in front of him, the Chevrolet, driven by a 50-year-old man from Naples with a juvenile passenger. After being rear ended, the Chevy was forced into the northbound traffic, colliding with the Honda Ridgeline, driven by a 79-year-old man with a 72-year-old female passenger, both from Coeur d’Alene. Following the collision, both the Ridgeline and the Chevy caught fire.

The 50-year-old driver of the Chevy was fatally wounded and passed away at the scene. The juvenile passenger was transported via life flight to a large hospital. The female passenger of the Ridgeline was transported to a local hospital by ground ambulance. No report is given regarding the other individuals involved.

On April 12^th, 2024, two juveniles were traveling northbound when they exited the roadway and crashed. The crash took place at 1:52 p.m. on Interstate 15, near milepost 114.

At the time of the accident, the juveniles were traveling in a 2000 Mercury Cougar. When they reached mile 114 just outside of Idaho Falls, the driver veered and left the roadway. The vehicle entered the median where it rolled, before it entered the southbound side and came to rest in the lanes.

The driver was fatally injured and passed immediately. The passenger was transported to a local hospital to be checked and treated. Both individuals were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

Idaho State Police are continuing to investigate a motorcycle and vehicle collision that occurred on April 7^th, at 8:10 p.m. The accident took place on State Highway 26, at the intersection of 100 N. The motorcycle, a 2003 Yamaha FZS10, was being driven by a 29-year-old man from Chubbuck with a juvenile passenger, and the second vehicle, a 1997 GMC Jimmy, was being driven by a 58-year-old man from Blackfoot.

At the time of the accident, the Yamaha was traveling westbound on SH26. As they traveled, they were struck by the oncoming GMC, who had been traveling westbound on 100 N and failed to yield to the motorcycle.

The driver of the motorcycle suffered fatal injuries and passed away at the scene. The juvenile was transported to a hospital via ground ambulance to receive treatment. Both individuals on the bike were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. The driver of the GMC was not injured in the accident.

On April 2^nd, two vehicles headed opposite directions collided on US 95 near milepost 470. The accident took place at 4:50 p.m. in Bonner County.

At the time of the accident, the first vehicle, a 2013 Mercedes Benz, was traveling northbound. This vehicle was driven by a 72-year-old man, with a 74-year-old female passenger, both from Austin, Texas. As he traveled, he began to veer over the center line and into the oncoming southbound traffic. He collided head on with the second vehicle, a 2020 Peterbilt Tractor Trailer, driven by a 46-year-old man from Westlock, Alberta. The Peterbilt was badly damaged and came to rest in the southbound lane, blocking traffic. The Mercedes was sent off the road and landed in the southbound shoulder.

The driver and passenger of the Mercedes sustained considerable injuries and were transported to a local hospital to receive treatment. Reports include that they were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The driver of the Peterbilt was also wearing a seatbelt, and he received no substantial injuries following the crash.

On April 2^nd, 2025, a motorcyclist was struck by another vehicle on West Chubbuck Road. The accident took place at approximately 6:48 p.m., in Bannock County.

At the time of the accident, the motorcycle, a 2002 Harley Davidson driven by a 20-year-old man from Pocatello, was traveling west on Chubbuck Rd. After he passed Philbin Rd., he began to turn south when he was struck by another vehicle. This vehicle, a 2013 Infiniti QX56 driven by a 53-year-old woman from Chubbuck, was traveling east down Chubbuck Rd. preparing to turn north.

The driver of the motorcycle was taken to a local hospital to receive treatment for his injuries. Reports include that he was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The woman driving the car did not receive any major injuries.

Idaho State Police are continuing to investigate the vehicle collision that resulted in the passing of two individuals on April 2^nd, 2025. The accident occurred north of Shelly, Idaho, on US Highway 91, milepost 119.

The first vehicle, a 2012 Ford F150 driven by a 68-year-old woman from Basalt, was traveling southbound. At approximately 4:39 p.m., the vehicle crossed over the center line, and veered into oncoming northbound traffic. Among the northbound travelers was the second vehicle, a 2013 Honda CR-V driven by a 66-year-old man with a 43-year-old female passenger.

The vehicles collided head on, and both passengers of the Honda passed away at the scene. The driver of the Ford was transported to a local hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. All three individuals involved in this accident were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

On March 30^th in Fort Hall, a single vehicle driven by a 62-year-old man from Rigby ran into an elk carcass that had not been removed from the roadway. The accident took place on Interstate 15, at mile marker 84, in Bingham County.

The driver, traveling in a 2004 Toyota Tacoma, was headed southbound on I15. At approximately 6:00 a.m., he came upon the elk and was unable to avoid it in time. He collided with it, causing him to lose control of the vehicle. He left the roadway, entered the median, and hit the vehicle crossover which caused the vehicle to overturn.

Following the accident, the driver was transported to a local hospital by ground ambulance. Reports include that he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.