LEWISTON, Idaho – Idaho State police are investigating a deadly crash that occurred yesterday afternoon at the intersection of State Highway 6 and State Highway 9.
On April 18, at around 1:07 p.m., a logging truck with over-length logs extending from the rear, driven by a 55-year-old man out of Troy, Idaho, was traveling Westbound on State Highway 6 when it entered the left turn lane to continue southbound on State Highway 9. A compact car, driven by a 55-year-old male out of Grangeville, Idaho, had been westbound on State Highway 6 behind the truck.
Idaho State Police, when the logging truck entered the left turn lane, the compact car continued westbound on State Highway 6. As the logging truck turned onto State Highway 9, an over-length log swung into the westbound lane of State Highway 6, which the car occupied at that time.
Police say the log that swung into the westbound lane and continued through the car’s cab struck the upper cab just above the bottom of the windshield.
Idaho State police say the driver received fatal injuries resulting from the strike from the log. The car continued uncontrolled for a short distance on westbound State Highway 6 before it went off the right shoulder through a barbed wire fence and stopped in the field on the north side of the highway.
Police say the truck continued southbound and was later located in Juliaetta, Idaho.
Police say the roadway was not blocked, but traffic control was utilized to allow law enforcement to investigate the crash safely.
The nature of the logging truck driver has been released, and this is still being investigated.
