Man Waves Gun, Then Hit, Killed By Motorist

A 20-year-old Rathdrum man was killed Saturday night when he was hit by a vehicle as he tried to cross a highway near Rathdrum.

Kootenai County sheriff’s officials say Keith R. Boyd had waved a gun at a woman only moments before the accident on state Highway 53.

Boyd accosted a female motorist near the parking lot of Schooneys Tavern about 8:25 p.m., said sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Sopher.

“Boyd threw a drink at a female in a car. There were a few words exchanged, and he produced a handgun,” Sopher said.

The sergeant said the woman apparently wasn’t afraid of the weapon and possibly thought it was a toy gun. She then drove away.

Police have not released the woman’s name and do not know whether she knew Boyd.

A few minutes later, Boyd tried to cross nearby Highway 53. Gary A. Barnhart, 54, of Rathdrum, was driving with his wife and daughter west on the highway when he saw Boyd, said Idaho State Police Cpl. Pete Bowes.

Barnhart was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting Boyd. “It wasn’t their fault at all,” said Bowes. “If somebody jumps out in front of you, there’s not much you can do. They did all they could do.”

Barnhart was driving under the speed limit. Police are checking to see if Boyd had been drinking before he tried to cross the highway.

Barnhart told the state police officer that he thought he had seen Boyd waving his arms with the gun in one hand just before the accident.

A .22-caliber revolver was found at the scene. State police closed the highway for about an hour.