Multiple crashes on Interstate 84 between Meridian and Boise slowed traffic during the morning commute.

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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: 11/4/2013 1:45 p.m.
Please direct questions to the District Office



Multiple crashes on Interstate 84 between Meridian and Boise slowed traffic during the morning commute Monday, November 04, 2013. Idaho State Police investigated five crashes in the area between the hours of 5:00 and 9:00 this morning.


Crash 1 -

Just before 4:00 a.m., an Idaho State Police Commercial Vehicle Safety specialist was called to assist the Boise Police Department with a traffic stop involving a narcotics violation with a commercial vehicle driver eastbound on Interstate 84 at milepost 49, near the I-184 City Center interchange. The driver was subsequently arrested, and officers called for a tow truck to remove his vehicle from the interstate. Just after 5:00 a.m., after officers had cleared the scene, the tow operator, James Hodson, 34 of Boise, was driving the logging truck away. As Hodson merged into traffic and came up to highway speed, Shelia Clark, 76 of Meridian, driving a 1999 Ford Explorer collided with the rear of the logging trailer. Shelia was transported via ground ambulance to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Emergency vehicles on scene blocked the right two lanes of the interstate while investigators worked to clear the crash scene.


Crash 2 -

At 6:08 a.m., troopers investigated a second crash eastbound near milepost 47, between the Cloverdale Road and Five Mile Road overpasses. Shawn Stout, 23 of Kuna, was driving east bound in a 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup when he slowed for traffic congestion in front of him. Val Hill, 65 of Meridian, was driving behind Stout in a 2005 Honda Odyssey van and failed to slow in time, colliding with the rear of the Dodge pickup. The Dodge pickup then collided with a 2010 Kia Optima, driven by Rogelio Olvera, 44 of Marsing. All occupants of the three vehicles were wearing seatbelts. Stout was transported to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise by ground ambulance. For about two hours, traffic was reduced to one lane through the crash scene, causing backups of nearly seven miles at one point.


Crash 3 -

At 6:45 a.m., troopers investigated a two-vehicle, property damage crash eastbound on the interstate just east of the Meridian Road overpass. Boyd Parrish, 52 of Nampa, was driving a 1998 Dodge Ram pickup eastbound on the interstate. As he went to make a left lane change, traffic slowed abruptly and Parrish crashed into the back of a 2004 Mitsubishi Outlander, driven by Rachel Bennett, 29 of Nampa. Parrish and Bennett were not injured.


Crash 4 -

At 7:59 a.m., troopers investigated a fourth crash, this time on the westbound side of the interstate, near the Eagle Road exit. Joshua Tuttle, 32 of Boise, was driving westbound in a 2013 Ford E350 Super Duty truck. Traffic in the area was congested and had slowed and backed up on the Eagle Road off ramp. Tuttle had not slowed in time and swerved to avoid crashing into the vehicle in front of him. Ashley Hansen, 28 of Boise, was driving behind Tuttle and could not see around his truck. When Tuttle swerved to the right, Hansen's 2003 Ford ZX2 could not stop in time, and collided with the vehicle that was in front of Tuttle, a 2002 Chrysler Sebring driven by Andre Zeh, 48 of Boise. Zeh's vehicle then collided with a 2007 Mazda 3 driven by David Smith, 44 of Boise. Zeh was transported to St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center by ground ambulance. Three of the four lanes were blocked for approximately thirty minutes causing traffic to back up nearly three miles.


Crash 5 -

At 8:48 a.m., troopers investigated a two-vehicle, property damage crash westbound on the interstate just east of the Five Mile Road overpass. Edward Burke, 37 of Boise, was driving a 2000 Volkswagen Passat westbound on the interstate. Burke was looking left in preparation for a lane change when traffic slowed immediately in front of him and he crashed into a Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Shandy Carroll, 24 of Boise. Burke and Parrish were not injured.



As we enter the winter months when road conditions can be wet and slick, the Idaho State Police would like to remind motorists to give themselves extra time to get to their destination, allow more space between you and the car in front of you, pay attention to the road and always wear your seatbelt.



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