Crash investigations continue

COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County Sheriff's detectives continue to investigate the cause of two related vehicle collisions that took place last month on Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive.

The woman accused of causing both wrecks, Kara Powers, 33, was released from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane at the end of January and sent to a physical rehabilitation center. According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, detectives are sifting through information and awaiting a toxicology report.

"We're still in the early stages of the investigation," Lt. Stu Miller said.

On Jan. 21, Patricia Desmet, 61, was driving her Subaru onto Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive when a Mercedes SUV, allegedly driven by Powers, approached on the wrong side of the road. Desmet attempted to swerve away, but was unsuccessful.

A good Samaritan, Coeur d'Alene resident Sheri Bullock, 42, pulled her Volvo SUV over and left her three children inside as she went to check on the drivers involved in the crash.

At that point, Powers allegedly walked over to the good Samaritan's Volvo and got into it.

With Bullock's three children still inside, Powers reportedly attempted to drive away in Bullock's vehicle.

After what Miller described as a "brief scuffle," Bullock was able to get her children out of the car. Powers then reportedly took off in the Volvo at high speeds and eventually rear-ended a Dodge pickup on Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive near Potlatch Hill. Both vehicles rolled over multiple times.

William Akin, the 48-year-old driver of the pickup, was in serious condition after the second crash, and was released from Kootenai Health on Jan. 31.

No charges have been filed against Powers in connection to the wrecks.