Thursday, December 26, 2013

Multi-Vehicle Crash on the Benton Street Overpass in Pocatello, ID.

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer
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Idaho State Police
District 5 5205 South 5th Ave.
Pocatello, Idaho 83204-2299
(208) 236-6466 FAX: (208) 236-6068

For Immediate Release: 12/26/2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Please direct questions to the District Office

On December 26, 2013, at approximately 4:12 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a multiple vehicle crash on the Benton Street overpass in Pocatello, ID.

An unoccupied Pocatello Police vehicle was stopped in the westbound traffic lane on the Benton Street overpass to assist a disabled 1991 Ford pickup, driven by Corey M. Harward, 36, of Pocatello, ID. The police vehicle was struck from the rear by a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Christopher J. Pickens, 21, of Pocatello, ID. The police vehicle was pushed into the rear of Harward's vehicle.

An unoccupied Pocatello Police vehicle was providing traffic control for the crash, with the overhead emergency lights activated. Jordan O. Sands, 20, of Pocatello, ID., struck the rear of the police vehicle while driving a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am. Sands got out of his vehicle. His vehicle was then struck from the rear by a 1990 Toyota Camry, driven by John L. Jelinek, 40, of Pocatello, ID.

Jelinek was transported by ground ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, ID.

Vision obstruction due to the setting sun was a contributing factor to the crashes.


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