Tense moments on I-90
<p>Emergency crews from the Post Falls Police Department, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue respond to the scene where a Spokane man finally pulled over his vehicle on Interstate 90 near the Huetter rest stop after going into diabetic shock. The driver was spotted swerving near the state line where his vehicle struck a barrier, and was followed by an off-duty Spokane County deputy.</p>
<p>The front driver’s tire of the SUV was destroyed after a Spokane man, in diabetic shock, collided with a barrier along Interstate 90.</p>
POST FALLS - Disaster was averted Tuesday on eastbound Interstate 90 after a man went into diabetic shock and swerved on the freeway for eight miles during morning rush traffic.
Police followed the Spokane man from the state line to east of the Huetter rest stop, where the male pulled over.
An off-duty Spokane County deputy spotted the driver swerving near the state line and followed the GMC Jimmy, said Post Falls Police Sgt. Dave Marshall.
The GMC struck a concrete barrier around 9:35 a.m. near the state line and continued to drive eastbound.
A Post Falls officer followed and activated his overhead lights at milepost 6 at Post Falls.
The driver continued to drive about 50 mph, swerving, and pulled over just east of the rest stop.
Not knowing the situation, police initially treated the incident as a felony DUI/eluding case and temporarily placed the man, described as being in his 50s, in handcuffs.
As soon as police realized the man had been having a medical episode and cooperated, they immediately took the handcuffs off, Marshall said.
"He said he was on his way to Jack in the Box for breakfast and the last thing he remembers was hitting a jersey barrier," Marshall said. "He doesn't remember anything after that."
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue arrived to treat the man.
The front driver's side tire of the GMC was destroyed during the incident. No other crashes occurred.
Idaho State Police and the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office also responded.
Eastbound freeway traffic was initially stopped during the investigation before the passing lane opened.