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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 Immediate Release: 03/03/11 01:00 AM
Contact: Trooper C. Pohanka
On Wednesday March 2, 2011, at approximately 8:15 PM, the Idaho State Police investigated a four vehicle crash eastbound on Interstate 84 at mile post 155 near Wendell. Harrison Matthews, 44 of Boise, was traveling east in his 2002 Ford F150 pickup pulling a 1994 enclosed utility trailer. Matthews was attempting to exit at the 155 and jerked the wheel causing him to lose control and spin out coming to rest facing westbound in the eastbound lanes. Matthews' trailer full of construction supplies rolled and detached from his truck, coming to rest in the center of the fast lane. Petr Demyanchuk, 33 of Everett, WA, was traveling eastbound in a 1994 Freightliner Semi pulling a 1999 Great Dane trailer. Demyanchuk's vision was impaired by the lights of Matthews' truck in the lane. Demyanchuk swerved to avoid Matthews' truck in the lane and lightly struck his trailer causing minimal damage to the semi. Demyanchuk then went into the median and back onto the interstate where he came to a stop. Pedro Espinoza, 40 of Nampa, was traveling eastbound in a 2006 Volvo semi pulling a 2007 Brenner tanker trailer. Espinoza's vision was impaired by the lights of Matthews' truck. Espinoza swerved to avoid hitting Matthews' truck and trailer, coming to a stop east of the crash scene without damage to his vehicle. William Brander, 56 of Twin Falls, was also traveling eastbound in a 1995 Ford L8000 commercial truck hauling a flatbed trailer with a tractor on it. Brander's vision was also impaired by Matthews' lights causing him to swerve, lightly hitting the trailer causing minimal damage. Brander's vehicle then came to a stop in the median. The tractor on Brander's trailer shifted but did not fall off. A wrecker arrived on scene to right the tractor before Brander could continue on. There were no injuries sustained in the crash. Eastbound Interstate 84 was blocked for approximately three and a half hours until the damaged vehicles were moved and all debris was removed from the roadway. Matthews was cited for careless driving.
This crash is under investigation by Trooper C. Pohanka with assistance from the Gooding County Sheriff, Wendell City Police, Gooding County Fire and EMS as well as the Idaho Transportation Department.
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