Motorists Asked To Be Careful Idaho Traffic Fatalities Have Gone Up 12.5% Over Last Year

As travelers head out on the highway for the Thanksgiving holiday, police are asking drivers to be especially careful.

Idaho traffic fatalities this year have increased by 12.5 percent from last year, according to Idaho State Police officials.

There were 207 traffic deaths in Idaho during 1994. Already this year, there have been 233 fatal accidents.

With more drivers on the road heading for a weekend filled with family, food and fun, travelers need to plan ahead and slow down, said Cpl. Jim Culpepper.

“It can get pretty crowded when everybody goes to relatives’ houses for turkey,” he said. “They hurry there, they get impatient with the person ahead of them and it leads to an accident.”

One Montana truck driver has already been taken to the hospital.

Arnold R. Clark, 43, of Big Fork, was taken to Kootenai Medical Center Wednesday morning after he wrecked his tractor-trailer on Interstate 90 early Wednesday morning.

Clark was headed east near the Rose Lake exit, when he came around a curve too fast, Culpepper said.

A load of heavy material inside the truck shifted and tipped the big rig over on its side.

Clark may have suffered internal injuries. He was listed in fair condition at KMC Wednesday night.

ISP cited him for driving too fast for conditions.

Accident statistics from the five northern counties aren’t quite as grim as the statewide numbers. The Idaho Panhandle has had fewer fatal accidents this year than last.

In 1994 there were 40 fatal accidents in the five northern counties. This year, there have been 32.

“I’d like to see everybody slow down and leave plenty of time to get where they’re going,” said Cpl. Sean Daly.

Daly said ISP will have extra officers on the road for the holiday. The ISP offered the following suggestions for safe winter holiday driving:

Make sure you have adequate tires for the weather; make sure the battery, wiper and lights work properly.

Take emergency equipment such as tire chains, a tow rope, flares, shovel, jumper cable and flashlight.

Plan ahead by mapping out your route and checking road conditions.

Drive slowly and don’t drive too close to the person in front of you. Rather than speed, stop and call if you are going to be late.

If you break down and have a cellular phone, call toll free *ISP or *477 for help. The number will send the call straight to the ISP office.

Don’t drink and drive. If you see a drunken driver, use the toll free number above to report it.

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