20-year-old dies in crash on Highway 53

A 20-year-old Rathdrum woman died in a crash on Highway 53 near the state line on Monday night.

According to Idaho State Police, Mercedes A. Abernathey was westbound at 8:56 p.m. near milepost 2 in a black 1998 Subaru Legacy when she drove off the right shoulder, striking a guardrail.

Abernathey overcorrected when re-entering the roadway and slid off the left shoulder of the road, causing the vehicle to roll. The vehicle rolled to rest on the BNSF Railway right of way.

Abernathey was not wearing a seat belt. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. An investigation continues.