Sunday, June 6, 2010

Trooper Rescues Driver From Car Submerged in Canal

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer
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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
Region 4 Patrol 218 West Yakima, Jerome, ID 83338-5904 (208) 324-6000
Fax (208) 324-7897
For further information, contact Capt. Robert Storm at (208) 324-6000 or (208) 736-3070

For Immediate Release: 06-06-2010 3:15pm
Contact: Master Corporal J. Gibbs


On Sunday, June 6th, 2010, the Idaho State Police investigated a one vehicle crash on Interstate 84 near Interchange 208, just north of Burley. Gerardo Huerta-Flores, age 20 from Jerome, was driving eastbound on the interstate through a work zone at a very high rate of speed. At the same time, Trooper J. Kilton, driving westbound in the same area, checked Huerta-Flores's speed in excess of 100 mph through the 45 mph construction zone. Before Trooper Kilton could turn around to stop him, Huerta-Flores passed him and drove off of the road into the median. Huerta-Flores overcorrected when trying to regain control of his vehicle, drove left of center, and left the pavement on the north side of the highway where his vehicle rolled over in the barrow pit, across a right-of-way fence. Huerta-Flores' vehicle came to rest on its wheels, completely submerged in an irrigation canal. Hearing Huerta-Flores' pleas for help, Trooper Kilton entered the canal and waded to the submerged vehicle. Trooper Kilton was able to extract Huerta-Flores from the vehicle and pull him to the safety of the canal bank where they waited for medical attention to arrive. Huerta-Flores was transported by ground ambulance to Minidoka Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was later transferred to St Luke's Magic Valley for further evaluation. Huerta-Flores was issued a citation for DUI. The crash is under investigation by Idaho State Police Master Corporal J. Gibbs.

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