Deputies identify woman hit by driver

Law enforcement investigators in Idaho on Monday identified the victim of a fatal hit and run as Vonette L. Larsen, 41, of Athol.

Larsen was run over and killed as she and other family members attempted to stop a man who had been harassing Larsen’s daughters in a road rage incident in northwestern Kootenai County about noon Sunday, sheriff’s deputies said.

She was struck by an older-model, full-size GMC Jimmy. The alleged driver was arrested by officers a short distance away on Scarcello Road, according to a news release from Capt. Ben Wolfinger of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department.

Jonathan W. Ellington, 45, of Hayden was booked into Kootenai County Jail on investigation of murder, aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of a fatality accident. He was also being held on an outstanding warrant for violating probation on a previous DUI case.

Ellington was reported as driving recklessly earlier in the day by Larsen’s daughters, identified by the Sheriff’s Office as Jovon and Jolene Larsen.

A deputy was sent to the area of Ramsey and Brunner roads and was told by the girls that another driver had been tailgating them, passing recklessly and threatening them.

After the deputy drove off to search for the suspect, the Larsen girls and their parents saw the man drive by them, deputies said, and the family chased the suspect in two separate vehicles. At one point, the suspect drove off Scarcello Road.

As family members attempted to prevent him from fleeing, the suspect maneuvered his vehicle back onto the road, clipping the vehicle used by the parents and ramming the car occupied by the girls, deputies said.

The driver then struck Larsen, who was standing on the road, deputies said.

Ellington was found a short distance away and arrested.

Ellington is scheduled to appear before a magistrate at 2 p.m. today in Kootenai County.