By Journal Staff

    Two people died in two separate accidents in Southeast Idaho on Sunday and one person was injured in a third accident in Pocatello, according to authorities.

    A 12-year-old girl died in a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 89 near Paris Sunday afternoon about 12:30 p.m. Paris is near Montpelier.

    Limited visibility due to blowing and drifting snow in the area caused a collision between three vehicles with 10 people as passengers or drivers, according to a news release from the Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

    All the occupants in the first two vehicles involved in the accident were taken by ambulance to Bear Lake Memorial Hospital, but the girl died of her injuries.

    The sheriff’s office reports that the accident happened when a vehicle traveling south on Highway 89 tried to slow due to slippery, windblown roads. But the female 18-year-old driver lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic. Her vehicle hit a northbound vehicle head-on. Impact from this collision caused her car to spin and sideswipe a second northbound vehicle.

    The 12-year-old victim was reportedly lying in the back seat of one of the vehicles involved.

    Other occupants of the two main vehicles involved in the collision were treated for minor injuries. The third vehicle sustained minor damage and the occupants did not require medical attention, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

    The names of those involved have not been released.

    The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office said weather, road conditions and driving too fast for conditions were all contributing factors in the accident.

    Meanwhile, Bannock County Coroner Kim Quick confirmed that at least one person also died in a separate accident shortly after 8:30 p.m. on U.S. Highway 91 near Swan Lake. Swan Lake is south of Downey.

    Idaho State Police are handling the accident, during which a car reportedly rolled. An air ambulance was called to the scene.

    Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen also confirmed one fatality. He said Bannock County Search and Rescue, as well as a couple of his deputies, were on scene to assist the Idaho State Police.

    A 1:42 a.m. Idaho State Police press release contained the names of the Bannock County crash victims.

    According to the press release, Guy ‘Clancey’ Rinderknecht, 20, of Rigby, was driving south on U.S. 91 near South of Downey in a 1995 GMC Jimmy.

    Clancey Rinderknecht drove off the road, overcorrected, and rolled the vehicle. Rinderknecht was ejected from the vehicle. The vehicle became engulfed in flames. Passengers in the vehicle were Odell ‘Joe’ Rinderknecht, 21, of Rigby, and Celia Z. Bennett, 81, of Logan, Utah.  Joe Rinderknecht was able to extricate himself and Bennett from the burning vehicle.   

    Clancey Rinderknecht was pronounced dead at the crash scene. Joe Rinderknecht and Bennett were transported by ground ambulance to Franklin County Medical Center in Preston. Joe Rinderknecht was later transferred by ground ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, ID.  Bennett was transferred by air ambulance to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah.

    Also, Idaho State Police investigated another accident on Highway 30 near the Simplot Don Plant-Interstate 86 exchange west of Pocatello Sunday about 4:15 p.m. The accident injured Lindsay C. Guerrero, 29, of Pocatello.

    Guerrero was driving a 1994 Jeep Cherokee west on U.S. 30 when it struck a concrete barrier and rolled. Guerrero was transported by ground ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center and was in stable condition as of Sunday night, according to PMC.

    Guerrero was wearing a seat belt at the time and the investigation is continuing, according to the state police.