Rear-end collision results in chain-reaction crashes on I-15
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UPDATE
The following is an update from Idaho State Police:
On Oct. 11, at approximately 8:29 p.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle injury crash and a secondary three vehicle property damage crash on Interstate 15, northbound and southbound, near milepost 78, just south of Fort Hall.
Cory Ihler, 49, of Malad City, was driving northbound on Interstate 15 near milepost 78 in a 2002 GMC pickup pulling a utility trailer with a UTV on the trailer.
Lucas Stokes, 27, of Pinegree, was also driving northbound on Interstate 15 behind Ihler in a 2011 Kia Optima. Stokes rear ended the utility trailer, and Ihler lost control of his pickup and trailer. The pickup and trailer exited the northbound lane of travel and entered the median, where both the pickup and trailer overturned. The pickup came to rest in the southbound left lane of Interstate 15.
As southbound traffic slowed for the pickup, Sherill Grimmett, 71, of Pocatello, was traveling southbound on Interstate 15 near milepost 78 in a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. Grimmett rear ended a 2011 Toyota 4Runner, driven by Sterling Low, 68, of Alberta, Canada. The Toyota rear ended a 2011 Ford Taurus, driven by Kristy Mickelsen, 31, of Idaho Falls.
Ihler was transported by ground ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.
The northbound lanes of travel were blocked for approximately three hours. One southbound lane was blocked for approximately four hours.
The crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
The Idaho State Police was assisted by Fort Hall emergency services, Bannock County Sheriff?s Office, Bannock County Search and Rescue, and Chubbuck Police Department.
ORIGINAL STORY
FORT HALL — Idaho State Police is currently investigating a crash on Interstate 15 around milepost 79, south of Fort Hall.
A witness tells EastIdahoNews.com that the driver of a pickup truck in the northbound lanes crossed over the median into the southbound lanes and “flipped onto the freeway.”
“We saw sparks come from behind the truck and then it rolled several times,” says Nolan Hiler. He was driving on I-15 at the time of the crash.
“It landed in oncoming traffic and it looked like a few cars may have hit it. It was really scary,” he says.
The southbound and northbound lanes are blocked. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
EastIdahoNews.com will post updates as we receive them.