Teen is stable after being hit by pickup

A 19-year-old Post Falls man who was struck by a vehicle while attempting to retrieve an item along U.S. 95 on Sunday was in stable condition Monday afternoon.

Nicholas Eloe was struck around noon 5 miles north of Athol by a southbound 1999 Toyota Tacoma driven by Emma Hustis, 23, Gunnison, Colo., according to Idaho State Police.

"It wasn't a glancing blow," ISP Sgt. Allen Ashby said Monday. "He was hit at the passenger side headlight and was rolled up on the hood and fell back on the pavement in the southbound lane."

Eloe was airlifted from the scene to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Eloe was an occupant in a 2001 Ford F-150 pickup that had pulled over on the southbound shoulder.

"It appears he walked in front of the pickup and crossed in front of southbound traffic," Ashby said.

No citations had been issued as of Monday. An investigation continues.

"We're looking into why the (Ford) had stopped," Ashby said, adding that he was unsure what Eloe was retrieving. "We're not sure yet if he was distracted, impaired or just failed to look."

Ashby said he was also unsure if Eloe was retrieving something belonging to him or someone else.

Ashby said Hustis, who was not injured, told an investigator that she'd slowed down prior to striking Eloe, but a specific speed hadn't been determined. The speed limit in that area is 65 mph. Ashby said there were no skid marks at the scene.

U.S. 95 is two lanes where the collision occurred.

A registered nurse who was traveling along U.S. 95 rendered first aid on scene and recommended to dispatchers that Eloe be flown to Sacred Heart for trauma care, Ashby said.

The highway was partially blocked for two hours.