Holiday DUI emphasis dedicated to teen victim

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — The Leeder family was touched when they learned that local law enforcement agencies will dedicate the upcoming holiday DUI emphasis patrols in memory of their son and brother, Jacob.

Jacob, the son of Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Tim Leeder and his wife, Wendy, was a sophomore at Coeur d'Alene High. He was killed in a DUI T-bone crash on Interstate 90 near the Fourth Street exit on Dec. 29, 2017.

"Drunk driving is so common, but you never think (a fatal accident) will directly affect you," said a teary-eyed Tim, who attended Monday's press conference with Wendy and their children Jonah, 21, and Hannah, 20, at Idaho State Police's Region 1 headquarters to kick off the DUI emphasis campaign.

"Everybody, including us, can take it for granted until you realize there can be serious consequences."

The driver of the other vehicle, 45-year-old William Swan, Coeur d'Alene, pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI and is awaiting sentencing. He is also being held in a Washington jail on a warrant for probation violation.

Wendy said the DUI emphasis patrol in memory of Jacob, who played football at CHS, means a lot.

"It makes me feel proud that Jacob's life is positively affecting others," she said.

Jacob was a Christian who loved his family and people in general, Wendy said.

"He was friends with everyone," she said. "He was loving, caring and could be hilarious."

Tim and Wendy said their faith and support from others such as the law enforcement community, friends and the congregations at Anthem Church have been a tremendous help after the tragedy.

The couple said alcohol consumption increases around the holidays. Tim said he hopes other families won't have to go through what he and his family have endured over the past year.

"We hear so much about gun violence, but this (drunk driving) affects even more people," Wendy said.

Tim said the family does not plan to sue Swan, nor have they spoken to or plan to speak to him.

"It wouldn't change anything," Tim said.

There were 119 adult DUI bookings in the Kootenai County Jail last year during the emphasis patrol from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. There were 102 in 2016-17 and 127 in 2015-16.

The Leeder connection to this year's emphasis was the idea of Coeur d'Alene Police Officer Nick Knoll, who had just arrested another DUI suspect and was on his way to the jail when he saw emergency responders tending to last December's crash on the freeway.

"I told the suspect, 'This (fatal crash) could have been you,'" Knoll said.

Knoll said he thought that dedicating the patrol to the Leeder family may prevent another tragedy and encourage law enforcement in the process.

Jonah, Jacob’s brother, was driving and was seriously injured in the crash. He was transported to Kootenai Health, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane and finally Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

According to ISP, Jonah attempted to pass another vehicle and his vehicle spun out of control during hazardous conditions. It stalled perpendicular to oncoming eastbound traffic. The Acura was then struck by a Chevy Silverado driven by Swan.

ISP Capt. John Kempf said the tragedy has taken the holiday DUI emphasis patrol to another level.

"We lost a member of our own family," he said, adding that departments didn't have any problems finding personnel to work overtime for the patrols during the holidays.

Other groups and businesses are also offering their support for the emphasis that runs this week through New Year's Day. Law enforcement agencies have funded the emphasis patrols both within their own budgets and through grants from the Idaho Transportation Department's Office of Highway Safety.

Lakeland High's Hello Hawks broadcast team provided a public service announcement featuring local law enforcement and the Leeder family to remind drivers to choose wisely this holiday season.

Anchored Coffee Company and the Fire pizza restaurant are offering coupons to designated drivers.

Most law enforcement agencies will conduct virtual ridealongs through social media during the campaign to create awareness. The hashtag #choosewiselykc will be used during the events.

Agencies throughout the county, including Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, the KCSO, Rathdrum, ISP and Spirit Lake will participate in the emphasis.

According to police, there is a DUI traffic fatality every 50 minutes across the country. Impairment is the leading cause of traffic fatalities in Kootenai County.

Kempf said the DUI campaign will be "no refusal," meaning if anyone suspected of being impaired refuses to be tested they will taken to a phlebotomist or the hospital to have their blood drawn.