Coroners from multiple East Idaho counties have spent the past two weeks identifying seven of eight people who died in what has been a tragic string of recent incidents throughout the region.
Those who died include a wanted Shelley man who drove the wrong way on Interstate 15 without headlights during a high-speed pursuit, a McCammon man daringly pulled from his burning home only to die at the hospital days later, victims of two separate double-fatal crashes across East Idaho and a UTV crash at a popular recreation area.
One of the most dramatic incidents unfolded in the late night hours of Saturday, July 11. Bingham County Sheriff’s Office deputies and members of the Joint Investigation Division with Blackfoot police had attempted to make contact with wanted felon Justin D. Kindred, 38, of Shelley, at a residence near 1250 North, west of Shelley, authorities said.
Kindred got into his vehicle with a female passenger and fled west on 1250 North into oncoming traffic with no headlights on, authorities said. He then entered Interstate 15, driving south in the northbound lanes directly at oncoming traffic while deputies scrambled to deploy spike strips.
A Bingham County deputy executed a PIT maneuver that caused Kindred’s vehicle to leave the freeway and overturn. Kindred was ejected and died at the scene.
His passenger, Ashlee Kollars, 32, of Pocatello, was rushed to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, or EIRMC, in Idaho Falls, where she later died.
The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office, which has jurisdiction when patients die at hospitals within the county, identified Kollars and listed her preliminary cause of death as blunt force injuries. Bingham County Coroner Jimmy Roberts identified Kindred.
The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force has taken over the investigation, with Idaho State Police leading.
Nearly one week earlier on the night of Thursday, July 2, a Bannock County sheriff’s deputy and a neighbor were credited with saving a man’s life — or so it seemed.
The incident began to unfold after emergency dispatchers fielded a call from a homeowner near Highway 91 and Dixon Road in McCammon reporting that his mobile home was on fire and that he and his dogs were trapped in a rear bedroom.
Bannock County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Jons arrived at the residence and, working with a neighbor who had rushed to help, pried at the mobile home wall until it gave way and pulled the man to safety before the fire cut off access. The dogs were able to escape on their own. The mobile home was a complete loss.
Jons, a 25-year veteran of the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, later deflected credit for the rescue. “People say I’m a hero. I was just doing my job trying to help people in need,” he said. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
The man was airlifted to EIRMC and later identified by the Bonneville County Coroner’s Office as Lance Talbot, 58, of McCammon. Coroner Shantee Sanchez said the investigation preliminarily determined that injuries sustained in the fire, combined with preexisting medical conditions, ultimately resulted in Talbot’s death. He died July 12.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Two people were killed Tuesday, July 7, when an out-of-control dump truck hauling asphalt lost its brakes and careened down Teton Pass on Wyoming Highway 22 near Wilson, along the Idaho-Wyoming state line. The dump truck slammed into a motorcycle and several other vehicles before overturning.
Teton County Coroner Brent Blue identified the victims as Nicholas Czernichew Besobrasow, 66, of Tetonia, Idaho, and David Thompson Page, 57, of Mammoth Lakes, California, and Jackson, Wyoming. Four others were transported to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson with minor to moderate injuries.
Preliminary investigation suggests brake failure may have been a contributing factor. Highway 22 remained closed in both directions until early Wednesday, July 8. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
A Monday morning crash, July 13, in Mackay left U.S. Highway 93 completely shut down for nine hours and two people dead.
A 2000 GMC Yukon SUV driven by Tony Luna, 61, of Arco, attempted to turn onto the highway from North 4100 West and failed to yield to a southbound 2022 Allegro motorhome, authorities said.
Luna and his passenger — a 58-year-old woman from Arco whose identity is still pending next-of-kin notification — both died at the scene. The 73-year-old motorhome driver from Oak View, California, was not injured. All parties were wearing seat belts.
Custer County Coroner Chad Workman identified Luna. Highway 93 reopened around 7 p.m.
UTV crash at St. Anthony Sand Dunes
On Friday, July 10, Mark Francis, 66, of Hardin, Montana, died following a UTV crash at the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. Fremont County emergency responders were dispatched around 2:20 p.m. after a reported off-highway vehicle crash.
Bystanders were already performing CPR when first responders arrived, and despite continued lifesaving efforts from dispatched paramedics, Francis was pronounced dead at the scene. Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye identified Francis and listed blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office urged caution among the crowds who visit the dunes each summer.
“As summer recreation continues, we encourage everyone visiting the dunes and other off-road areas to use caution, be aware of changing terrain conditions, and always wear appropriate protective gear,” the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In