Idaho Briefs May 11, 2010

I-90 collision with elk injures driver

KELLOGG - A 64-year-old Superior, Mont., woman was in fair condition at Kootenai Medical Center on Monday after the vehicle she was driving collided with a cow elk on Interstate-90 at Kellogg on Sunday night.

According to Idaho State Police, Rosella K. Mellen was driving a 1997 Dodge Stratus at 11:06 p.m. when the vehicle struck the elk in the roadway. The collision caused the elk to roll over the hood and through the windshield.

The crash caused the elk to split in half, according to ISP.

Part of the elk was then struck by a 1996 Dodge Stratus driven by LeeAnn Stewart, 16, Silverton.

Neither Stewart nor two passengers with Mellen, Kimberly Owen, 44, Pinehurst, and Annette Raedel, 41, Superior, were injured.

Mine rescue?contest is Saturday

KELLOGG - Rescue teams from Idaho, Montana, Washington and Alaska will test their skills at the annual Central Mine Rescue Contest Friday and Saturday.

Hosted by Silver Mountain Resort, the event will feature eight teams, including two from the Silver Valley: Hecla's Lucky Friday squad - the 2009 champion - and U.S. Silver's Galena crew.

Friday's festivities kick off at 8 a.m. in the Silver Mountain gondola barn. Teams will compete in the rope rescue and first-aid competition, designed to simulate a real-life mine emergency.

Actors will pose as injured mine workers. Teammates will work together and think on their feet, just as they would in a genuine rescue situation. The event will be timed.

On Saturday morning, squads will gather at 7 a.m. for the 40-minute team technicians contest.