ISP: Wrong way driver causes I-90 crash in Post Falls
An RV burns after being involved in an accident on Interstate 90 in Post Falls early Thursday.
Photo by Kevin Greer
A two-vehicle crash in the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 in Post Falls on Thursday was caused by a driver going the wrong way, the Idaho State Police said.
A Dodge Caravan, driven by a 62-year-old man from Spokane Valley was traveling east in the westbound lanes of I-90 while a semi-truck hauling cars, driven by a 55-year-old man from Pennsylvania, was headed westbound.
The vehicles met on top of the Spokane Street overpass at milepost 5, ISP said.
"The semi driver saw the Dodge approaching and swerved to avoid a head-on collision," a press release said. "The Dodge sideswiped the semi, rupturing one of its fuel tanks and spilling diesel onto the roadway."
The semi came to a stop, blocking both westbound lanes and caught fire. The Dodge came to rest about 50 yards from the point of impact.
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue extinguished the fire, saving the trailer, though the semi itself was a total loss, ISP said.
The Caravan driver was transported by ground ambulance to Kootenai Health with minor injuries. The semi driver, his wife, and their adult son were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. It is unknown at this time whether impaired driving was a contributing factor, the release said.
Westbound I-90 was closed at Spokane Street for several hours while crews cleared the scene.