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One dead, two injured in Bonner County
crash |
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January 21, 2012 |
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A photo taken
by Krissy King, Bonners Ferry, at the scene of a
multi-vehicle accident on U.S. 95 near
Cocolalla this morning. |
An Oregon truck driver was killed and two people
injured, one critically, in a multi-vehicle
collision at about 8:40 a.m. today near milepost
459 on U.S. 95, near Cocolalla Creek. One of
those involved in the collision was Brian
Fendos, 39, Bonners Ferry, who was not injured.
The collision closed U.S. 95 nearly all day, at
the time of this writing, 6:50 p.m., it is
estimated that the roadway should be cleared and
traffic restored within an hour or two.
According to the Idaho State Police, Zachary B.
Henager, age not given, Temple, Texas, was
driving a 1994 Mazda coupe south when he lost
control, went left of center and struck a 2012
Mack truck towing an empty flatbed trailer,
driven by Richard D. Walston, 58, Colville,
Washington, head-on. The impact sent Henager's
vehicle into the southbound ditch and sent
Walston's semi into the southbound lane, where
it struck a 2006 Freightliner towing a flatbed
loaded with peat moss, driven by James M. Mady,
49, Creswell, Oregon, head-on.
Mady's truck flipped onto its side, blocking all
southbound lanes and the northbound passing
lane. Walston's semi went into the southbound
ditch.
Mady was pronounced dead at the scene of the
accident.
Fendos, driving a 2004 Peterbilt towing an empty
gasoline tanker, was in the southboud lane when
Henager initially lost control, and taking
evasive action, he ran his rig off the
southbound shoulder, striking a northbound 2005
Volvo tractor pulling a livestock trailer,
driven by Pavlo P. Shevchuk, 21, Manitoba,
Canada, who then went off into the northbound
ditch.
Roger C. House, 45, Post Falls, was driving a
1991 Isuzu Trooper north, swerved to miss
Shevchuk, going off into the northbound ditch
himself.
A Medstar medical evacuation helicopter was
summoned to the accident scene, where the crew
picked up Henager for the flight to Kootenai
Medical Center, where he is listed in critical
condition. Walston was transported by ambulance
to Bonner General Hospital, Sandpoint, and later
flown by Medstar to Sacred Heart Hospital,
Spokane. His condition is unknown.
ISP Corporal Alan Ashby, who is investigating
the accident, is seeking to contact the female
driver of a sports utility vehicle that was
traveling south near the accident scene, and who
may have been behind Henager and who may have
witnessed the crash. Ashby can be reaced at
(208) 209-8620. |
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