No charges in Timberlake Fire crash
ATHOL - The driver of a Timberlake Fire District engine rollover crash last month will return to work on Monday, according to district officials.
Idaho State Police, which investigated the crash, released details of the incident and no charges were filed.
Kody Wright, 44, of Rathdrum, was driving a 2013 International fire engine southbound on Cape Horn Road near Bayview around 10 p.m. on June 11.
The engine was approaching Waller Road when Wright entered into a left-hand curve too fast, said Teresa Baker, ISP public information officer.
"This caused the fire engine to drive off the right-hand shoulder and roll over onto the passenger side of the engine and slide to a stop," Baker said.
The crash occurred when the engine was returning non-code from a medical emergency.
Both Wright and Brandon Hermenet, the other occupant in the engine, were evaluated at Kootenai Health after the rollover and released with no injuries.
Wright was placed on paid administrative leave pending a completed investigation. Hermenet was also placed on paid administrative leave after the accident, but earlier returned to work.
The engine remains out of service. The accident was covered by insurance and the district will not have a financial loss as a result, said commission chairman Rudy Rudebaugh.
Meanwhile, Timberlake Chief Kevin Kleinworth remains on paid administrative leave. He was placed on leave three days before the Cape Horn Fire near Bayview that was reported on Sunday.
Rudebaugh said the decision and fire occurring in Timberlake's district around the same time was a fluke and he wants to make clear that Kleinworth, 46, is not a suspect in the fire. He also said the rollover also had nothing to do with the decision on Kleinworth.
Kleinworth, who has been with the district for more than two years and has extensive wildland fire experience, declined to comment this week on his job situation, citing the pending personnel matter.
Rudebaugh referred further questions to fire district attorney Larry Beck, who couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.