Organizers look to make relay race safer

COEUR d'ALENE - The Spokane to Sandpoint relay race director says organizers will look into possible safety improvements for competitors in next year's race.

But, organizers said, they did everything they could this year to offer the safest race possible, and what those improvements could be is still up in the air.

"We will certainly be looking into that and take in any feedback we can get," said Ben Orth, race director for the event that finished its third annual competition over the weekend. "It's our chief goal. Our primary goal is the safety of our athletes."

Race spotter Patricia Lambies, 46, was killed around 6:30 Saturday morning during the race along Highway 41 near Blanchard and a 17-year-old runner was injured when the two were hit by a suspected drunk driver.

Lambies was airlifted from the side of the highway to Kootenai Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead. The teen was treated and released at Kootenai Medical Center Saturday afternoon, according to reports.

The fatal crash was the second vehicle versus racer incident in 24 hours for the 185 mile relay.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Robin Johnson, 44 was hit as she ran across Highway 2 near Colbert Road on Friday morning. Troopers said a teenage driver hit Johnson but the southbound driver wasn't responsible for the collision as Johnson failed to yield to traffic.

"It's tragic, anytime you have anything like this, it's tragic," said Idaho State Police Cpt. Clark Rollins.

Rollins, who took part in the race, said ISP is investigating the fatal accident, but waiting for the toxicology reports to come back for the suspected driver, Bowdeen Kahuhu, 31.

Kahuhu was booked into Bonner County jail on $50,000 bond for vehicular manslaughter.

Rollins said witnesses described Kahuhu as driving erratically, and 911 calls had been made regarding the driver leading up to the accident. Kahuhu was driving north on Highway 41 near Blanchard when she crossed the center line, hitting Lambies and the runner as they traveled north in the shoulder of the southbound lanes, according to reports.

The two victims were wearing reflective vests, Orth said, and following proper safety protocol at the time of the accident. Still, the race will look into what it can do to make the event safer.

"There are risks to everything we do," Orth said, saying the route uses the Centennial and other trails as much as possible to get the racers away from highways. "That being said we've taken as many measures as possible for safety issues. Are we looking at ways to improve? Definitely. Safety is our No. 1 concern."

He said there aren't plans to cancel the race, and that organizers have spoken to families of the victims, who do not hold the race responsible.

"We're fully behind them, praying for them." he said of the family, adding about the suspected drunken driver: "I can't even tell you how frustrating it is, how disappointing it is, that people make those kinds of decisions."