12/16/09

A stretch of Interstate 90 near Post Falls in northern Idaho was closed for more than 2-hours last night after a fatal accident involving 3 vehicles.

Idaho State Police officials say the driver of an suv, crossed the median into oncoming traffic, and was slammed by a car, and a pick-up with a snow plow attached.

A mother, her teenage daughter, and another passenger were in the suv. The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other two were taken an area hospital with life-threatening injuries. The mother later died of injuries sustained from the crash at Kootenai Memorial Hospital.

ISP suspects weather conditions and speed both may have played a role in the accident.

Two people in the car, and the driver of the pickup were taken to the hospital and treated for relatively minor injuries.

Meanwhile, an Idaho truck driver escaped serious injuries, but his colleague wasn't as lucky, after another truck hit them as they applied chains along an off-ramp on interstate 84 near Ontario, Oregon.

Milton Belton of Colville, Washington died at the scene. 45-year old Miguel Victorio-Alvarez of Nampa was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

State police officers say they were both struck by a truck driven Francisco Lecaro of Peris, California. Authorities say Lecaro left the scene of the accident and was later found at a truck stop.