Teenagers may face charges after party accident, injury

Four Coeur d’Alene teenagers could face charges of obstructing justice and minor in possession of alcohol after police say they lied about the location of a beer party where a drunken friend fell from a balcony and suffered serious injuries.

Friends drove Beau Lee, Lake City High School’s senior class vice president, to Kootenai Medical Center early Friday after the 17-year-old fell two stories while attempting handstands at a home on Fernan Terrace Drive, according to a Coeur d’Alene police report.

Lee, who was knocked unconscious in the fall and suffered head injuries and a broken pelvis, remained hospitalized Tuesday night but was improving, said his mother, Linda Lee.

A hospital employee called police about 12:20 a.m. Friday.

Lee’s friends told police they drove him to the hospital, according to the report.

According to the report, the four first told police the party was at the Fernan-area home of a North Idaho College student.

But after officers drove one the boys around the area for half an hour looking for the home, the boy said they’d lied about the location, fearing the party’s host would be held liable for Lee’s injuries.

Lee faces one charge of minor in possession of alcohol, according to police. Linda Lee said her focus is on her son’s recovery.

“These kids are great kids, all of them,” she said. “It’s just really unfortunate.”