Five-Car Pileup Blocks I-90 Traffic

Five cars were wrecked during a rush-hour pileup on Interstate 90 that stalled eastbound traffic for more than three hours.

Two people were taken to Kootenai Medical Center with minor injuries.

The 5 p.m. accident about a mile west of Coeur d’Alene was triggered by wooden pallets that fell from a pickup truck during a hail storm, according to Idaho State Patrol Cpl. Pete Bowes.

Jenelle Osborne, 20, of Coeur d’Alene said she slammed on her brakes to avoid the pallets and was rear-ended by another car. Several other cars followed suit.

Eastbound traffic was stalled as far back as Post Falls. Authorities managed to clear enough of the wreckage to get cars rolling again by 5:30 p.m., Bowes said.

Bowes said the driver of the pickup, who was not immediately identified, was issued a citation for failing to secure his load.

, DataTimes