Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Two - Vehicle Crash Starts Fire

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer
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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
District 3 Patrol 700 S. Stratford Dr., Meridian 83642
(208) 846-7550
Fax (208) 846-7520

For Immediate Release: 07/10/2012 at 10:00 p.m.
Please direct questions to the District Office

On July 10, 2012, at approximately 1:05 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a two vehicle crash on Interstate 84, near milepost 66. Krista McCann-Fidler, 19, of Colorado Springs, CO, was driving west in a 2004 Subaru Forrester in the left lane. Homer A. Myers, 75, of Lake Havasu, AZ, was driving west in a 2006 Jeep in the right lane. McCann-Fidler was slowly passing Myers when her vehicle experienced a mechanical problem, causing her to lose control of the vehicle. McCann-Fidler's vehicle veered into the right lane, clipping the front left corner of Myers' vehicle. McCann-Fidler drove her vehicle off the north shoulder of the road, traveling approximately 150 feet into a sage-covered field. The vehicle then rolled, and became fully engulfed in flames.

As of 6:00 p.m., the fire had burned an estimated 3,000 acres of rangeland. Several hundred personnel from different fire and law enforcement agencies were involved in the rescue and fire efforts. The eastbound travel lanes remained open throughout the incident. Portions of the westbound lanes of travel were periodically blocked between the crash scene and Mountain Home as fire crews battled the fire. At approximately 6:00 p.m., all travel lanes were completely open in both directions of travel. As of 10:00 p.m., the fire is expected to be contained soon.

All occupants of both vehicles were wearing seatbelts. There were no injuries. McCann-Fidler's vehicle is a total loss.

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