One killed in six-vehicle crash
<p>Crews investigate a six-vehicle accident that occurred around 9 a.m. near Cocolalla on Highway 95 on Saturday. One person was killed and several others injured. (Photo courtesy MATT MILLS McKNIGHT)</p>
COCOLALLA — One person was killed and several others injured after a multi-vehicle accident Saturday morning on U.S. 95 near Cocolalla Creek which closed that portion of the highway for more than 10 hours
Idaho State Police said the accident happened after Zachary B. Henager, age not listed, of Temple, Texas, was southbound on U.S. 95 near milepost 459 where the southbound passing lane ends and the northbound passing lane begins when he lost control of his 1994 Mazda Coupe around 8:40 a.m.
Henager went left of the center line, striking head-on a 2012 Mack tractor driven by Richard D. Walston, 58, of Colville, Wash., who was towing an empty flatbed trailer. The Coupe was pushed into a ditch on the south side of the highway. Walston lost control of his rig, went left of the center line into the southbound lanes, striking a 2006 Freightliner tractor towing a flatbed, soft-sided trailer loaded with peat moss head-on.
The trailer of the vehicle, driven by James M. Mady, 49, of Creswell, Ore., was flipped onto its side, blocking both southbound lanes as well as the northbound passing lane while the semi tractor went off into the southbound ditch of U.S. 95. Mady was killed in the accident.
Brian M. Fendos, 39, of Bonners Ferry, was southbound in a 2004 Peterbilt tractor towing an empty gasoline tank trailer when Henager lost control, and took evasive measures to miss Henager as he went off the southbound shoulder. According to the ISP press release, Fendos struck a northbound 2005 Volvo semi tractor towing a livestock trailer driven by Pavlo P. Shevchuk, 21, of Manitoba, Canada. Shevchuk lost control and drove into a northbound ditch.
Roger C. House, 45, of Post Falls, who was northbound in a 1991 Isuzu Trooper, swerved to miss Shevchuk and drove into the northbound ditch of the highway.
Henager was taken by MedStar to Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, where he was listed between serious and critical condition. Walston was taken to Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint and then flown by MedStar to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was listed in serious condition Saturday evening.
Fendos and Shevchuk were not injured in the accident. House and passenger, Nathan C. House, of Post Falls, were not injured, ISP officials said.
All drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.
The highway reopened around 7 p.m.
Investigating officer Cpl. Allen Ashby said ISP would like to speak to the female driver of a sports utility vehicle who witnessed the crash. The woman was southbound near the location or following Henager’s Mazda when the crash happened.
The driver, or anyone else with information on the crash, is asked to call Ashby at (208) 209-8620.