Student, 18, killed in crash

A high school senior from Hope, Idaho, died in a car crash Wednesday, and a 20-year-old driver faces a vehicular manslaughter charge.

Tyler J. Pesce, an 18-year-old student at Clark Fork High School, was pinned in Zachary B. Palmer’s 1981 Chevy Corvette after the car left River Road and landed in a ditch, then went back on the roadway before rolling off the south side, breaking three trees, according to Idaho State Police.

Pesce died at the scene. Palmer, of Clark Fork, was ejected from the car and treated and released at Bonner General Hospital. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash, which occurred about 1:20 p.m., according to the ISP.

Clark Fork Principal Phil Kemink said counselors will be at the 135-student school today to talk with teens about Pesce’s death.

“He was a very well-known kid, and it’s going to affect a lot of people,” Kemink said. “I don’t know how often you can preach to kids about doing the right thing, but darn, this hurts.”

MOSCOW, Idaho

UI investigating incident

Authorities are investigating whether a hate crime has been committed against an openly gay University of Idaho student who lives on the Moscow campus.

Kory Larabee said he is afraid to leave his dorm room at night after derogatory messages were recently scrawled on the door of his residence. Larabee said the messages threatened physical harm against him.

Larabee said the university has since responded and installed security cameras in the hallway of his campus dormitory.

The university and the Moscow Police Department are reportedly investigating the incident.