Washington man dies in fiery crash near state line
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RATHDRUM — A Washington state man died Thursday after his car crashed head-on into a semitruck on State Highway 53, and both vehicles erupted in flames.
Idaho State Police say the fatal crash happened just before 4 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the highway near McGuire Road, which is about 5 miles southwest of Rathdrum.
The 36-year-old Washington man was headed west in a 2006 Acura TSX when, for a yet-unknown reason, it crossed into the eastbound lane, according to an ISP news release. The sedan then collided head-on with a westbound 2026 Volvo semitruck.
“Both vehicles caught fire,” the release states. “The driver of the Acura succumbed to his injuries at the scene.”
The Washington man’s next of kin have been notified, state police said. The man’s name has not been released publicly.
The driver of the semitruck, a 27-year-old from Alberta, Canada, had minor injuries, according to the release.
ISP said the highway was blocked for about four hours as they investigated the crash. One lane of traffic opened up intermittently throughout the investigation to allow some traffic through, the release stated.
Further details about the crash were not immediately available. State police said an investigation is ongoing.