Driver Killed As Deer Breaks Windshield Two Serious Accidents Sunday On U.S. Highway 2

A Coeur d’Alene man was killed Sunday when a deer smashed through his windshield as he drove on U.S. Highway 2 north of Spokane, the Washington State Patrol reported.

The accident was one of two within half an hour of each other and about eight miles apart that snarled traffic for several hours on U.S. 2, one of the main arteries in northern Spokane County.

The first crash occurred about 8:20 p.m. near Bear Lake County Park.

Ryan Tefft, 21, was driving his 1989 Ford Escort south when a driver who was headed north struck a deer, troopers said.

The deer sailed through Tefft’s windshield, striking him and his passenger, before crashing out the back window, the State Patrol reported.

Tefft died at the scene of massive internal injuries. His passenger, 19-year-old Megan Hampton of Post Falls, was hospitalized with facial cuts, a concussion and an eye injury.

The other driver, 21-year-old Joel Buchanan of Elk, was not injured.

The second collision occurred about 8:45 p.m. near the intersection with Oregon Road.

Troopers said 19-year-old Christopher Baggett of Elk was headed north in his 1988 Honda Civic when he swerved into the southbound lanes.

There he collided head-on with a 1984 Chevrolet van being driven by Becky Carlson, 36, of Clayton, Wash.

Baggett suffered head and internal injuries and was flown by helicopter to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane.

Carlson also was injured and was taken by ambulance to Deer Park Hospital.

Several passengers in Carlson’s van suffered minor injuries.