Idaho
Two rafters die in separate accidents on Idaho's Selway River
IDAHO COUNTY, Idaho — Two people are dead following separate rafting incidents on Idaho’s Selway River over the weekend.
The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office received the first call just before 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and was informed of an SOS activation up the Selway River, with CPR reportedly in progress. The area where the SOS was sent from is part of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area and is nearly 20 miles from the end of the nearest road.
Roughly 2 hours after the first call, around 3:40 p.m., Idaho County Dispatch received a 911 text from someone saying that a second person in their rafting group had flipped into the water. This incident was roughly 2 miles downstream from the first SOS location, according to a press release.
Life Flight responded to the scenes and confirmed the death of both individuals, but, due to the location, was unable to transport them out.
The next day, Two Bear Air used a helicopter winch system to retrieve both individuals from the canyon. They were then taken to Cedar Flats and turned over to the Idaho County Coroner. The names of the deceased have not been released while authorities notify their families.
OWYHEE COUNTY — Three people were hospitalized after a head-on collision on State Highway 45 on Sunday morning, the Idaho State Police said.
The crash occurred at 11:30 a.m. on May 24 at mile marker 10.4 when a southbound Toyota Tacoma struck a northbound GMC Terrain, authorities said. The Tacoma was driven by a 22-year-old man from Melba; a 45-year-old Melba man was a passenger. The Terrain was driven by a 35-year-old man from Meridian.
All three were transported to area hospitals — two by ground ambulance and one by air ambulance — the Idaho State Police said.
All occupants were reported to have been wearing seatbelts. Northbound and southbound lanes on SH‑45 were blocked for approximately two hours while emergency crews worked to clear the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
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UPDATE: (as of 7:15 p.m. on May 23)
Neighborhood Reporter Allie Triepke has confirmed with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office that road closures have been lifted.
A fire near Kuna off Swan Falls Road has burned 1,500 acres, according to BLM Idaho Fire.
Crews with Boise Unit Fire responded to the scene at 3:28 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.
The fire is being referred to as the Moore Fire and is being ruled a human-caused fire, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.
Containment is projected for 9:00 p.m. Saturday, though times may change based on active fire activity.
Road closures are in effect from West Victory Lane south to Dedication Point, BLM Idaho Fire said in a Facebook post. Swan Falls Road is the only access route in and out of the area, so drivers should expect delays until the closure is lifted.
Neighborhood Reporter Allie Triepke is at the scene and sees multiple BLM fire trucks on scene, with state police turning away cars coming from Swan Falls Road.
Triepke reports that Idaho Power, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho State Police are also on the scene.
She adds that, though it is not a mandatory evacuation, officials are advising people to leave the area. Authorities are currently surveying the area where the fire started, and an investigation is underway.
Idaho News 6 will continue to update this story.
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