Planet Fitness crasher still in hospital, no charges filed yet

A man who crashed a pickup truck hauling a fifth-wheel trailer through the entrance of a Coeur d’Alene gym Thursday is still in the hospital and has not been charged, according to Idaho State Police.

Police would not release the name of the 57-year-old Spokane man who they said likely suffered a medical issue before driving off the road near the intersection of U.S. 95 and Canfield Avenue around noon, crossing the parking lot of the Silver Lake Mall before crashing into the doorway of Planet Fitness.

Trooper Cody Ercanbrack said the man’s blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit, but police have not cited or charged the driver because he remains in the hospital under observation.

“He had other issues going on,” Ercanbrack said. “They wanted to be sure he is healthy, and safe to leave.”

Police said the southbound Dodge Ram and its recently-purchased RV were stopped at the U.S. 95 intersection, but when the light changed, it did not immediately move. Witnesses thought the pickup was stalled before it began slowly traveling forward. It crossed the lane divider and the northbound lane, bounced over the sidewalk and down an embankment. It wheeled through trees and into the Silver Lake Mall parking lot before crashing into the front doors of the fitness center, which was closed because of the coronavirus.

The driver was alone, and no one else was injured.

Troopers said the man couldn’t remember what had happened, but he told police he drank a few swigs of vodka earlier in the day, but “felt fine now.”

He was transferred to Kootenai Health.