Teen recovers after accident

COEUR d'ALENE — A Coeur d'Alene High sophomore was riding on the back of a vehicle Monday afternoon when he fell and struck his head, police said, but he is now making strides in recovery.

Isaah Ove was transported to Kootenai Health and later flown to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane after the accident in the 1200 block of Hoffman Avenue just east of the school near Webster Street.

"We've heard that he's a bit banged up, but he's doing well," said Coeur d'Alene School District spokeswoman Laura Rumpler, citing testimony from classmates.

Rumpler said the school district has been unable to reach Ove's family members since the accident.

A female classmate of Ove's, who declined to be identified on Wednesday, confirmed he was the victim in the accident and that he's recovering well.

According to Idaho State Police, a juvenile male was driving a silver 2004 Honda Accord east on Hoffman from Fourth Street when the accident occurred.

According to scanner traffic, medics arrived on scene at 12:37 p.m. during the school day for a call of someone having a seizure.

ISP was requested to respond and investigate at 12:55 p.m.

Another male juvenile and two female juveniles were passengers in the car.

Pam Ferguson, who lives on Hoffman near where the accident occurred, said she was getting ready for company when she heard sirens.

"I didn't think much of it because I didn't think they'd stop right in front of the house," she said. "There was a kid down in the street that the responders were rendering aid to and there were other kids there."

Ferguson said the student bystanders described what happened.

"They said that (Ove) was riding on the outside of the car," she said. "They said the driver tried to hit the brake and instead hit the accelerator, flipping the kid over. He had nothing to hold onto. One of the girls said he was having a long seizure — probably from the head injury."

Living near the school, Ferguson said she has seen her share of horseplay along Hoffman before and after school. She said police have set up speed trailers on the street to curb speeding by youths and adults alike.

Regardless, the latest accident made her cringe.

"We all did stupid things as teens — nobody deserves that," she said. "It's too bad. I prayed for him."

An ISP employee on Wednesday said no more information is being released on the accident at this time. The ISP crash investigator could not be reached for comment.

A staff member at Coeur d'Alene High referred an inquiry from The Press to Rumpler at the district office.

An investigation continues.