Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Injury Crash Near Soda Springs

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: 12/23/2015 3:50 p.m.

Please direct questions to the District Office

On Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at 10:33 a.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle, head-on, injury crash on US Highway 30 at milepost 379 near Soda Springs.

Madhawa Somasiri, 38 of Soda Springs, in a 2011 Toyota Prius, was driving westbound on U.S. Highway 30. The area was experiencing winter weather driving conditions with low visibility. Somasiri noticed another vehicle approaching from the rear and moved over to the left to let the vehicle pass him. However, Somasiri collided head-on with a 2003 Toyota pickup that was eastbound. The driver of the pickup, James Glennon, 65 of Rocksprings, Wyoming, was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

Somasiri and his passengers; Kalani Somasiri, age 36, and Gimhana Somasiri, age 7, were all transported by ground ambulance to Caribou Memorial Hospital in Soda Springs. All occupants were wearing seatbelts.

The Idaho Transportation Department closed US Highway 30 between mileposts 371-386.5 for approximately 5 hours due to the weather conditions. All lanes are back open.

This crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

KL / EH

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