November 9, 2009 in News, Idaho

One dead in crash near Athol

The Spokesman-Review

A 43-year-old man is dead following a head-on collision along U.S. Highway 95 near Athol that blocked traffic for about 2½ hours Monday, authorities said.

Michael L. Johns, of Athol, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 5:15 p.m. crash, according to the Idaho State Police. The driver of the other car, 27-year-old Jayme Ruben Shottanana of Bonners Ferry, was taken to Kootenai Medical Center with unspecified injuries.

Johns was driving a 1995 Dodge Intrepid, while Shottanana was driving a 2002 Jeep Liberty, the State Police said. Although troopers reported that alcohol consumption likely is a factor in the collision, the specific cause was still under investigation Monday and investigators were still trying to determine the direction each vehicle was traveling just before impact.