In brief: Car hits taxi, injuring occupants, in CdA

A man fled an accident scene early Sunday morning after his Mercury Sable crashed into a taxi in Coeur d’Alene, according to the Idaho State Police.

Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the 2:29 a.m. collision at the intersection of Ninth Avenue and Hastings, police said.

Michael Nelson, 29, was driving westbound on Hastings Avenue when his vehicle struck the taxi driven by Ryan Meyer, 26, of Coeur d’Alene, according to police reports. Meyer and his two passengers were taken to Kootenai Medical Center, where he was treated and released. One of his passengers was also treated and released and the other’s condition was not known.

An investigation is continuing.

Lake Pend Oreille trail planning honored

An effort to create a public trail along Lake Pend Oreille has received an award from the American Planning Association’s Idaho chapter.

The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail concept envisions a waterfront trail stretching from downtown Sandpoint to Ponder Point in Bonner County. More than 100 individuals, business and groups worked together on a two-year planning effort.

One of the key tasks is acquiring nearly a mile of shoreline within the trail corridor from the Hall family for about $1.6 million. The city of Sandpoint bought the first of four parcels this fall. The deal calls for additional land purchases by Sandpoint, the city of Ponderay and the nonprofit Friends of Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail through 2014.