Medical episode cited in crashes

Post Falls police and fire crews worked to free occupants involved in one of two crashes Friday morning near Mullan Avenue and Idaho Street, both caused when one driver apparently suffered a medical episode.

Witnesses told police that after hitting a vehicle at the intersection about 9:15 a.m., a Jeep continued at a high rate of speed westbound in the eastbound lane of Mullan, where it hit a Ford Contour head-on. The Jeep flipped, landing on its top.

Traffic through the area was blocked, and the occupants of the Jeep and Ford had to be extricated, police said.

The driver of the Jeep, John Watson, 59, of Post Falls, suffered a traumatic leg injury. His passenger, a 13-year-old boy, had facial and leg injuries, police said.

The driver of the Ford, James Norris, 37, of Post Falls, suffered multiple fractures, police said.

Freezing fog or drizzle, topped with a dusting of snow in parts of the region, made for a challenging morning commute Friday.

A three-car accident in the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 about 6:45 a.m. slowed traffic moving up the hill near the freeway interchange with U.S. Highway 2 earlier Friday. No injuries were reported.

Elsewhere Friday morning, a vehicle and semitruck collided on Argonne Road north of Trent Avenue shortly before 9 a.m. No one was injured, but the accident blocked traffic temporarily.

Officers asked for de-icer about 9:40 a.m. for Cheney-Spokane Road just southwest of U.S. Highway 395.