Spokane7
58°
December 17, 2009 in City, Idaho
Three killed in wrong-way crash at U.S. 2 and I-90
Victims identified as Davenport, Spokane Valley residents
Three people were killed early today in a collision that occurred when a wrong-way vehicle collided with another vehicle on the eastbound on-ramp of U.S. Highway 2 onto Interstate 90.
The ramp was closed for at least three hours following the 2:11 a.m. collision involving two vehicles, the Washington State Patrol said.
Dead at the scene were Sterling N. Kruger, 22, of Davenport; James Roscoe Bolton, 61, of Spokane Valley; and Trina Louise Erickson, 47, of Spokane Valley, troopers said.
Kruger was driving to the west in the eastbound lanes of I-90 in a 1996 Honda Accord when he entered the U.S. 2 on-ramp going the wrong way, troopers said.
He collided with a 1998 Dodge Stratus, which was being driven by Bolton. Erickson was a passenger with Bolton.
The Bolton vehicle was traveling correctly in the right-hand eastbound lane of the two-lane on-ramp.
Troopers said it was not known if alcohol or drugs were involved. The investigation is continuing.
Bolton and Erickson were wearing seat belts; Kruger was not, troopers said.
Bolton was custodian at Evergreen Middle School where the principal described him as proud of his work in an e-mail to parents. Counselors and support staff from Central Valley School District were at Evergreen through the day to help children cope with the loss, said the principal, John Parker.
It is the second multiple fatality accident along I-90 in the Spokane to Coeur d’Alene area in less than three days.
Two people were killed and five others injured in a four-vehicle crash in Post Falls on Tuesday evening.
WSU police investigate third suspicious fire 
shellzbellz on December 17 at 9:46 a.m.
Whats going on with wrong way drivers? Are things not marked well enough? Or is it the people? Just wondering.
Roger_Young on December 17 at 10:31 a.m.
I inquire how he was able to enter a limited access highway near 195 to go westbound in the east bound lanes.
I have traveled the Highway 2 off ramp after leaving the airport and I also would be very surprised if/when I saw a car coming the wrong way.
Sorry for the Bolton/Ericson families.
Im gonna take a guess that alcohol was a factor at that time of night, also that whomever overserved this young lad should be investigated for culpability.
SugarShane on December 17 at 11:36 a.m.
I have no idea how the guy managed to get into the wrong lane, if you drive around this area, you’d see it would take a bit of navigating to accomplish. Theres no way alcohol wasn’t involved.
eagleproducer on December 17 at 12:34 p.m.
It’s hard to tell where Kruger entered I-90, but there are cameras all along the travelled route that should piece this tragedy together.
Uptight_Spokanite on December 17 at 6:51 p.m.
Oh I see the internet traffic investigation officers are here already. They’ve got the blood pathologies in on ETOH testing and they’ve examined the vehicles and determined ETOH was involved. Conclusively.
*Theres no way alcohol wasn’t involved.*
As they are accident investigators of the Internet State Patrol and aren’t newspaper reporters or editors, one can forgive the double negative in the final Internet State Patrol accident investigation report and conclusion.
Nice work as always, guys.
__Dan__ on December 17 at 7:31 p.m.
Maybe it’s time to examine the use of one way spike strips at freeway on and off ramps. Cross them going the wrong way and “pop!” — not only is your trip over, but you’ve learned an expensive lesson!
Roger_Young on December 17 at 8:39 p.m.
Uptight_Spokanite the village called, they want you to come back, they are missing their diminished capacity person.
IMHO on December 21 at 11:35 p.m.
It is wierd how the oncoming semi truck that he passed didn’t register with him that he was going the wrong way. He was also going very fast. Too bad the other people weren’t included during the deadly decision making process.
They need much stiffer penalties for DUI’s. Show them no mercy (at least on the 2nd offence). If you have previous DUI’s and continue to drive and kill someone, then you should be treated the same as if you had committed premeditated murder and swing from a rope or get a different kind of cocktail that comes in a syringe.
zombiemaven on December 22 at 3:15 p.m.
My condolences to the families.