Vehicle crash closes Idaho Highway 54

A vehicle struck a power pole in North Idaho prior to dawn this morning, downing lines and forcing closure of Idaho Highway 54 near Ramsey Road, officers reported. The accident at 3:11 a.m. was expected to close the road until the power line could be removed and repaired, a job that was taking several hours, officials said. The accident was east of Spirit Lake and west of Athol. Idaho State Police said that Dustin S. Gilton, 25, of Blanchard, was headed north on Ramsey Road in a 1998 Jeep Wrangler when he failed to stop at a stop sign on Ramsey Road at Highway 54. He struck a power pole and the Jeep rolled onto its top. He had minor injuries. Within a few moments, an eastbound log truck became entangled in the power lines. The log truck driver was identified as Dustin L. Bame, 37, of Spirit Lake, in a 1996 International. He was not injured. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts. It was among numerous accidents across the region this morning. A vehicle struck a deer on Dishman-Mica Road south of 16th Avenue. An accident involving a semi truck put out traffic signals at Argonne Road and Upriver Drive. A 2-vehicle crash was reported on Sunset Highway near Grove Road. Another accident occurred on Fort George Wright Way near Spokane Falls Community College, according to Spokane Police Officer Teresa Fuller. Power lines were also reported down on Valley Chapel Road near Traver Road. KHQ reported that a moose was hit near U.S. Highway 2 and Rambo Road.