North Idaho Briefs March 7, 2011
Three injured in U.S. 95 crash
COEUR d'ALENE - Three people were injured early Sunday when two vehicles collided at the intersection of U.S. 95 and Kathleen Avenue at 12:49 a.m., according to Idaho State Police.
Driver Dominique M. Sands, 19, of St. Maries, and passengers Matthew M. McDevitt, 21, of Medimont, and Jacob A. Sheppard, 19, of Harrison, were eastbound on Kathleen in a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier when the vehicle crossed U.S. 95 against a flashing red light, police said. The Cavalier crossed in front of a 1996 Ford pickup driven by 17-year-old Shane M. Murinko of Athol.
The pickup struck the Cavalier in the right front passenger door, police said. Sands, McDevitt and Sheppard sustained severe injuries, and extrication was necessary.
Murinko was not injured in the crash, police said.
Sands, McDevitt and Sheppard were transported to Kootenai Medical Center, police said. At mid-morning Sunday, McDevitt was in serious condition; Sands and Sheppard were in fair condition, according to hospital staff.
Alcohol was not a factor in the incident, police said.
Northbound U.S. 95 traffic, as well as traffic on Kathleen, was diverted for approximately 3 hours.
Two ice fishermen fall through ice
The Kootenai County Sheriff's Department received two calls over the weekend regarding ice fishermen falling through the ice, according to a department press release.
On Sunday, the Sheriff's Department Dive Rescue Team responded to an adult male who had fallen through the ice on Fernan Lake near Fernan Village, deputies said. The man was able to drag himself about 300 feet to shore after falling through.
On Saturday, a man fell through while ice fishing on Cave Lake near Medimont, deputies said. He also rescued himself.
Ice conditions are not favorable for ice fishing with the recent warming trend and rainy weather, deputies said. If a person decides to risk venturing out onto the ice, he/she should be wearing a life jacket and carrying a pair of ice picks in the event of a breakthrough.