Seven-person crash in Southeast Idaho caused by impaired driver; officials urge DUI education

Flowers laying on the dirt beside a road

The Idaho State Police (ISP) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) urge drivers to make safe, sober choices behind the wheel following confirmation that the at-fault driver in a recent fatal crash on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake had a blood alcohol content of 0.20 — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

The May 1 crash on one of the main corridors to Yellowstone National Park, which claimed the lives of seven people, occurred just as Idaho entered the 100 Deadliest Days — the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when traffic fatalities typically rise due to increased summer travel, holidays, and impaired driving. Law enforcement and transportation officials say this preventable tragedy underscores the consequences of impaired driving.

“This tragedy should be a wake-up call,” ISP Captain Chris Weadick said. “No one plans to cause a crash or take a life when they get behind the wheel, but choices have consequences. Impaired driving isn’t just illegal — it’s deadly. If you see someone unfit to drive, speak up. Lives depend on it.”

Alcohol-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of traffic deaths in Idaho.

“Idaho’s roads are especially busy during the summer,” ITD Operations Manager Bryan Young said. “With more construction, increased travel, and an influx of visitors, we’re seeing more families and more drivers on the road. It only takes one impaired driver to change lives forever. This is a preventable problem, and it starts with each of us making responsible choices.”

DUI Prevention Tips

  • Plan ahead: If you plan to drink, arrange for a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or public transportation.
  • Always buckle up: Seatbelts save lives and reduce injuries, though they do not replace the need for safe driving.

This summer, ISP and ITD are partnering to strengthen DUI enforcement and expand public outreach. We ask everyone to help protect lives by staying sober behind the wheel. The public is encouraged to report suspected impaired driving by calling *ISP (*477) or 911 if they observe erratic or dangerous behavior on the road.

I-15 Stoddard Creek Exit now open to southbound traffic ahead of Memorial Day

I-15 southbound lanes at Stoddard Creek Exit 184 in east Idaho.

 

Southbound traffic is now able to travel over the Stoddard Creek Bridge at Interstate 15 Exit 184 just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Travelers can now turn both right and left onto Stoddard Creek Road underneath the bridge. This road provides access to multiple camping and recreational opportunities in the area.

Southbound 1-15 traffic is no longer diverted onto the Exit 184 ramps, but back onto one lane over the Stoddard Creek Bridge along the main roadway. This one lane closure allows the Idaho Transportation Department and contractor partners to accomplish finishing work, like replacing guardrails, on the passing lane of I-15. Work is expected to be complete and all traffic restrictions removed within the next month.

This update can be seen on the Idaho 511 app and at https://511.idaho.gov/.

Area highways to briefly close for railroad replacement and paving work

Railroad crossings along SH-48 in Roberts, Idaho.

 

REXBURG—The Idaho Transportation Department, in partnership with Union Pacific Railroad, will close highways near several railroad crossings in May.

State Highway 33 from Rexburg to Sage Junction will close Monday through part of Tuesday as needed (May 19-May 20) as Union Pacific Railroad replaces crossings along this route. Motorists can take State Highway 48 to Roberts and Interstate 15 to Sage Junction as an alternative.

SH-48 through the town of Roberts will close through the weekend of May 31-June 3 as three parallel railroad crossings and paving are conducted there as well. I-15 can be accessed at the Osgood Interchange south of Roberts as an alternative.

Digital message boards will be in place along both routes prior to these closures to give motorists advance warning time for making alternative travel plans. Updates regarding these closures will be posted on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.

Lane restrictions and closures for sign installation at US-20 Rexburg exits happening this week and next

A drill rig and other equipment, as well as orange traffic control devices, at US-20 Exit 333 while work is being conducted.

REXBURG— One lane and full closures at Exits 332 and 333 off U.S. Highway 20 in Rexburg are ongoing today and into next week. These restrictions are required so contractors can drill deep foundations for the large overhead signs that will soon be the finishing touch on the Diverging Diamond Interchanges completed last fall.

Both of these Rexburg exits will see one lane closures in the areas where drilling work is occurring. Traffic control will move with equipment and the road fully open wherever possible.

Next Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20 Exit 333 will be fully closed overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. ITD and contractor partners are working through the night so traffic can flow as usual through the daytime hours.

Large equipment, including a drill rig to reach the required 18-foot foundation depth, will need to be in the roadway underneath US-20 for work at both locations, reaching across and over the median concrete barriers. To keep everyone safe and be able to swiftly clean up any water or debris that the drilling creates, lane restrictions and closures have been deemed essential. ITD and contractor partners are committed to completing the work as quickly as possible to cause the least amount of traffic disruption.

“The foundation for the bridge and cantilever posts that will hold the large overhead signs has to be particularly deep,” Resident Engineer Curtis Calderwood stated. “We want them to be secure and have integrity in the wind. This is pretty well the last holdout for getting the exits truly finished.”

These restrictions and closures will be noted on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.

ITD Island Park foreman addresses multi-fatality crash

ITD Ashton/ Island Park foreman Ryan Wright at the site of a multi-fatality crash on US-20 near the Idaho/ Montana border.

Tragedy is, just that, tragic. The need and desire for reverence is legitimate. Difficult and hallowed situations can also cause strength, character and work ethic to shine admirably.

In sorrow for the lives lost during the crash that this article refers to, and hope that others who can relate will know they are not alone, we share the story of our role in the response.

 

Idaho State Police and the Idaho Transportation Department in East Idaho have a history that speaks for itself— ISP Lieutenant Marvin Crain and his troopers don’t hesitate to rely on ITD because the partnership has been proven time and time again. ITD operations and maintenance personnel across East Idaho are used to working beside ISP, ready to assist on scene as valuable first responders and traffic control.

Such was the case on the evening of Thursday, May 1, for a multiple fatality crash on US-20 at milepost 399. ITD Ashton/ Island Park foreman Ryan Wright has been in his role for the past 15 years and is an integral part of the small communities he serves. He heard about the incident just after it happened. Knowing it was blocking both north and southbound lanes, he sent his Island Park crew to direct traffic before ISP ever called. Wright then got in his own truck and headed to the scene personally.

“I don’t know what frame of mind a guy goes into it with. I can’t say you get used to it because you don’t,” Wright emphasized. “It’s just something we have to do. I guess it’s just work mode.” He said he tries to keep his crew members from having to be right in the thick of things during crash responses.

Once there, ISP spoke with Wright to request an additional flagger farther south. An Ashton crew member was called and showed up to fill that role. Wright himself pitched in to help however he could, knowing the Fremont County Coroner personally and working alongside the familiar ISP folks involved. 

Wright and his crew members were on scene and assisting until the crash was cleared around 2 a.m.
 

“It’s when you get home and the adrenaline goes down and you start thinking,” Wright said. “The visions in your head you just don’t get rid of.” 

East Idaho ITD leadership and Safety Officer Ronnie Butler made contact personally to get CISM, the Critical Incident Stress Management team that exists in each ITD district, available and ready for Wright and his crew. The individuals who are part of a CISM team are trained to offer a listening ear, help manage expectations after a traumatic event, and connect employees to the services needed. Each member is interviewed before joining the team and has related experience of their own.
 
“I’m not sure why I’ve always been able to handle it because I’ve seen some terrible wrecks,” Wright added. “We each deal with stuff our own way. I’ll usually call another foreman. We have each other.”
 
In the time since the crash, Wright has had to re-visit the site to assess damage and determine what needs done to ensure the continued integrity of US-20 near the Montana border. This road is the connection to the western entrance of Yellowstone National Park. ITD crews will conduct mastic and grader operations in the coming weeks as soon as investigations allow. 

To our ITD operations and maintenance crews across the state, your contributions as first responders and the ones who pitch in during traumatic incidents do not go un-noticed. Thank you for your strengthyou are appreciated and of such great worth. 

Resources will always be available to help after an incident. Any ITD employee struggling as a result of work or on a personal level, don’t hesitate to contact your CISM representativesthey are happy to help and located to be able to respond immediately. You are not alone.

Open houses Wednesday and Thursday to share design plans to improve I-15 between Fort Hall and Blackfoot

Aerial view of Exit 89 on I-15

The Idaho Transportation Department will host public open houses on April 30 and May 1 to share information and gather community input for three projects along Interstate 15 between Fort Hall and Blackfoot. Community members are encouraged to drop in anytime to learn about the projects, ask questions and provide feedback to the project team.

The public is invited to view design plans in person:

  • Wednesday, April 30, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Blackfoot Community Center (1350 Parkway Drive #31, Blackfoot).
  • Thursday, May 1, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Shoshone-Bannock Convention Center (777 Bannock Avenue, Fort Hall).

At both meetings, ITD will share design plans about the following projects:

  • I-15 South Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 89) rebuild with a new design.
  • I-15 Exit 89 to Exit 93 Widening to increase capacity to meet future traffic demands.
  • I-15 US-26/Blackfoot Interchange (Exit 93) rebuild.

Those who are unable to join ITD in person are invited to participate online at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-corridor. Online participants can review identical project information and comment between April 30-May 15.

Elements of the widening project are funded with Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds as part of Governor Little’s Leading Idaho program. The program allows ITD to accelerate project timelines to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today that would otherwise take many years to fund and build.

Those who are interested in learning more are welcome to visit the project website at itdprojects.idaho.gov/pages/i-15-corridor, email info@pocatellotoidahofalls.org or call 208-252-5553.

 

East Idaho travelers will see even more improvements to US-20

Orange traffic control barrels and lights along US-20 in east Idaho as traffic moves beside.

RIGBY—Exploratory drilling along U.S. Highway 20 from Idaho Falls to Rigby, as well as pavement replacement within the active roadway north of Rexburg, begins Monday. The Idaho Transportation Department is urging travelers to be aware of equipment and crews through these particularly busy areas.

“Last year, we had three near miss occurrences as we were drilling on US-20 near Idaho Falls,” ITD Geologist Shawn Enright said. “We want people to be particularly aware so we can make sure everyone gets home at night and the work gets done too.”

Over the next three weeks, contractor partners will have drill rigs and traffic control in operation near the ramps, overpasses and canal crossings from Interstate 15 Exit 119 in Idaho Falls to Rigby to gather data for potential future widening of US-20. Work will happen within the shoulder or roadside.

More efforts to improve US-20 from North Rexburg Exit 337 to Driggs/ Jackson Exit 339 are also beginning Monday and will continue throughout the next three weeks. Contractor partners will be repairing the worst sections of roadway to provide a smoother ride for motorists.

The northbound ramp to access US-20 at Exit 337 will be closed through the day on Tuesday, April 29. Once work has progressed north, motorists will see closures of the northbound on-ramps at Sugar City/ Salem Exit 338 and Driggs/ Jackson Exit 339. Each closure is expected to last no more than a few days and will only remain through daytime hours.

This work will be noted on the Idaho 511 app and 511.idaho.gov. Drive aware and drive safe while crews make Idaho’s roads better.

Look out for crews and traffic control as spring road work begins across East Idaho

ITD crews perform crack sealing repairs on I-15. Men are wearing hi-vis yellow and operating handheld equipment at the back of a small crack sealing trailer.

RIGBY— With the onset of spring, over the next several months the Idaho Transportation Department and contractor partners are crack sealing, repairing potholes, removing hazardous trees and conducting more substantial improvements to ruts and bumps in the roads from Salmon to Driggs and the Montana state lines to Idaho Falls.

Crack sealing is underway on Interstate 15 from Idaho Falls to Dubois, as well as State Highways 33 and 47. This work involves a mobile one-lane restriction that follows workers’ progress. ITD crews fill minor cracks in the roadway with a strong, sticky tar that serves to keep water from getting under the surface and making the damage worse. This must be done in spring during cooler temperatures and dry conditions, and then the repair effectively expands through warmer months.

Flagging operations will be in place temporarily on state highways across east Idaho as ITD performs mastic pothole repair. Expect flagging delays to be less than 15 minutes where this work is occurring. Mastic work uses a hot-applied rubber and asphalt combination that is highly effective at sealing up more substantial damages in the road. These fixes must also be done in dry conditions and specific temperatures seen during the spring. Crews time work before or after peak travel times, even at night as needed.

On U.S. Highway 20 between Rexburg and St. Anthony, crews will be working to mill off the surface of the road in 1,500-foot stretches or less and then overlay new pavement. Expect to see one lane closures and speed reductions where this is occurring.

Hazardous tree removal will also begin this spring on U.S. Highway 93 between Challis and Salmon. ITD crews can sometimes work off the roadway, though flaggers will be in place as needed, with one lane restricted in 15-minute increments. The removal of dying and diseased trees will improve errant driver safety recovery zones, wildlife visibility and fire protection widths. This effort will continue through the spring and into the summer months.

Other routine spring maintenance work like shoulder repairs and delineation enhancements are also ongoing. Drivers should be aware of these smaller work zones, slow down and move over to help everyone stay safe. Download the Idaho 511 app or visit tps://511.idaho.gov/ to stay up to date on where road work is occurring across Idaho.

Right turn only restrictions at I-15 Stoddard Creek exit

Road Closed signs in place on Stoddard Creek Road underneat I-15 Stoddard Creek Exit 184.

The Idaho Transportation Department is continuing repairs to the Stoddard Creek Bridge at Exit 184 on Interstate 15. Stoddard Creek Road underneath the I-15 bridge is closed for safety, as crews work to demolish the current bridge deck above.

Both northbound and southbound travelers exiting the freeway will only be able to make right turns from the ramps on to Stoddard Creek Road. Drivers cannot turn left and travel underneath the closed bridge. This restriction will remain in effect until work is completed, which is estimated to be late spring.

The recreational parking area west of the Stoddard Creek Exit is only directly available for southbound I-15 drivers. Northbound traffic needing to access the recreational parking area should proceed six miles to Humprey Exit 190, then head back southbound to exit at Stoddard Creek. From this direction, a right turn to the parking area can be safely completed.

Updates on this closure and construction can be found on the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.

‘The Salt Seeing Eye:’ the snowplow driver’s crystal ball

A hand points out the screens inside the cab of a snowplow, one of which shows the truck bed holding salt.

If we each had a crystal ball, just think of all the time, money, pain or heartache we could save!

While not exactly a crystal ball, Idaho Transportation Department plow operator Skylerr Valentine, with help from the Idaho Falls shed crew, has come up with an innovation that’s a little bit close. Well, for ITD operations folks in terms of work that is.

Valentine pondered on the fact that while plowing, he would need to make multiple stops through his route to climb up the truck bed and see how much salt was left. This of course involved pulling over, getting out of the cab and physically climbing on the heavy equipment. On newer dump/ plow trucks, a small ladder is fitted to the side of the bed. On older ones that still operate in force across the state, this salt check involves navigating from the stairs of the cab across to one of the rims of the truck bed. Valentine actually once fell while doing just that.

He figured that surely a camera could be installed to show down into the sander box that holds augers and salt. This would allow salt levels to be monitored visually just like wing plows are. He happened to be aware of a truck in east Idaho that was on the surplus sale line and talked to ITD Fleet Manager Dalton Rice about using the outdated wing plow camera from it to test out this innovative idea.

With the help of the entire Idaho Falls crew and ITD electricians Josh Harris and Justin Romrell, that older camera was mounted to the truck bed and wired around, then into the cab, with concern for easy disconnect points to retain dump truck functionality. The smaller screen of the unit was mounted inside, just underneath the tablet typically used by plow operators. Valentine dubbed it the “Salt Seeing Eye.”

“It was a lot of work, figuring it all out just right,” he said. “We really tried to make sure it was waterproof and could stand up to the elements. I wanted to see it put to the test this winter.”

Tablets equipped inside plow trucks show drivers video of where their wing is at, and relay salt and brine output numbers right on the screen. They don’t, however, indicate when salt in the truck bed is gone. Those numbers keep on ticking, and the operator keeps on driving, thinking he’s covering the road when in fact, he’s sure not.

Multiple times Valentine, and surely other operators anywhere, would stop to check salt levels in the bed, only to see that it’s empty and have no idea how long it had been. Then begins backtracking to determine where to pick back up with salt application, essentially doing the same thing over again and wasting time.

“I would make a 70-mile round trip, having run out but no idea where,” Valentine said. “I had no idea how long ago it had been or how many miles really had nothing on the road.”

There are formulas and historical knowledge that can help operators determine just how far so much salt will cover.  Let it be said that ITD operations folks could certainly be given science and math degrees for the calculations they’ve mastered when it comes to doing the work they do. They rely on the output readings on the tablet in each truck also. Where those reading don’t stop even if the salt is empty, calibrations aren’t without a significant margin of error though.

“This could really help us find discrepancies in our calibrations,” Idaho Falls Operations Foreman Jared Loosli said. “It has the potential to save a lot of money when it comes to salt ordering.”

This winter, Valentine has indeed had the chance to put the new tool to the test. While plowing the five-lane section of US-20 west of Idaho Falls, he’s determined from the safety of the cab that he can in fact make one more pass on his route, where he normally would have stopped to check or headed back to the shed to refill.

The “Salt Seeing Eye” may not be the crystal ball that can help any one of us avoid bad personal life decisions, unfortunately. But with substantial time saved while snowplows are out doing the vital work they do, increased safety for operators that would no longer have to climb on heavy equipment in slick winter conditions, and visible cost savings through more accurate salt use calculations, this innovation certainly has the potential to greatly benefit operations across Idaho.

Ideally, this camera could come standard on all new ITD trucks and be paired with the typical tablet, becoming one of the options right on the screen operators use now.