Four killed in Idaho crashes

A toddler was left in critical condition and lost her mother, father and sister Friday morning in an accident on U.S. Highway 95 near Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

A Naples man who crashed into the family’s car faces three counts of vehicular manslaughter and one count of aggravated DUI, punishable by up to life in prison. His bail has been set at $1 million.

Lyssa Saunders, who is 2 months old, was in critical condition Friday at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

She lost her family: Bonners Ferry residents Tabitha C. Saunders, 21, and Bart D. Bartron, 24, and their 2-year-old daughter Kjestine Saunders.

Bartron, who was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, was home on leave from the Army.

Luke A. Peterson, 26, was driving a Dodge Quad-Cab pickup southbound on Highway 95 when he went into the northbound lane and hit the family’s Plymouth Neon head-on about 3:19 a.m., according to the Idaho State Police.

“We are getting so frustrated,” Capt. Wayne Longo said. “A DUI crash is an avoidable crash. It did not have to happen.”

All involved were wearing seat belts.

In another accident in Boundary County, the driver of a Chevrolet pickup hit the passenger side of a Chrysler Concourse Thursday evening, killing the passenger, Cindy Carol Smith, 30, of Bonners Ferry, and injuring the driver, Wiyanna Davitta Smith, 17.

The Chevy driver, Ada F. Yoder, 59, was also injured in the crash, which happened at the intersection of county roads 30 and 30B near Bonners Ferry.

The status of the survivors was not available Friday.

Both are residents of Bonners Ferry. All three were wearing seat belts.