BY JOURNAL STAFF
A Challis resident died in a rollover crash on U.S. Highway 93 near the Willow Creek Summit around 7 p.m. Thursday, according to Idaho State Police.
Michelle L. Dea, 42, was traveling in the southbound lane of traffic in a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee when she failed to negotiate a curve, overcorrected, lost control, and slid off the side of a hill.
According to ISP, the vehicle rolled to the bottom of the hill where it came to rest.
Dea was found by motorist who was passing by and called Custer County authorities.
The woman was wearing her seat belt.
Idaho State Police were assisted at the scene by Custer County Sheriff’s Office deputies and a medical team from Mackay.
The driver of a semitrailer filled with frozen hamburger patties also failed to negotiate a curve on Thursday. The accident happened on Highway 26 near Swan Valley.
ISP say the semitrailer rolled on its side and injured the driver, Bruce Fitzgerald, 58, of Shelley.
Fitzgerald was reportedly traveling east on Highway 26 when he failed to negotiate a curve. The trailer filled with frozen burgers separated from the tractor and rolled down an embankment into the South Fork of the Snake River about 11:45 a.m. The tractor overturned on the road and blocked both lanes of travel.
Fitzgerald was wearing a seat belt and transported by Swan Valley Ambulance to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.
Traffic lanes were partially blocked for several hours. The trailer was still submerged in the river and the recovery was delayed until Friday morning when more crews would be available to safely remove it.
This crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police with assistance from Bonneville County Sheriff’s office, Idaho Transportation Department, and Idaho Fish and Game.
