Lakeland Village provider’s license revoked after abuse

A care provider at Lakeland Village Nursing Facility had his credentials suspended after officials determined he put his foot on a resident’s forehead, pushed him down twice, rubbed hand sanitizer in his eyes and told the man that he wished he had died in a fire.

The findings of abusive behavior against certified nursing assistant Gregory Koppang included a $1,000 fine by the state Department of Health. The allegations arose last year, and the ruling was finalized last month.

Koppang is prohibited from petitioning for reinstatement for four years. Koppang received his nursing assistant license in 2004. He no longer works at Lakeland Village. According to Department of Health documents, Koppang waived his rights to a hearing. No criminal charges have been filed.

Eli Francovich

Sandpoint woman dies in three-vehicle crash

A Sandpoint woman died in a three-car crash Tuesday on U.S. Highway 95.

Alexander C. Hjelt, 24, of Post Falls, was headed north on Highway 95 near West Elmira Road about 4:20 p.m. when he failed to stop for traffic ahead of him, the Idaho State Police said in a news release. His Chevy Silverado hit the rear of Kathleen Ginter’s Saturn sedan, pushing it into southbound lanes.

A Mercury Marquis, driven by Shaya Hall, 22, of Moyie Springs, Idaho, was headed south and hit Ginter’s Saturn, which rolled into a ditch.

Ginter, 60, was taken to Bonner General Hospital but died from her injuries, the ISP said. All three drivers were wearing seat belts. Hjelt was not injured. Hall was injured, but did not go to the hospital, the release said.

Staff reports

Slow-moving train hits woman, 65, in Athol

A 65-year-old woman was hospitalized Wednesday morning after she stepped in front of a slow-moving train in Athol.

First responders were called to the scene near Meadow Street and state Highway 54 shortly after 6 a.m. The woman was airlifted to Kootenai Health. The women’s injuries did not appear to be life-threatening, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The Sheriff’s Office said it appeared the woman was crossing the Union Pacific tracks about a quarter-mile north of Highway 54 when she was struck. Timberlake Fire Chief Kevin Kleinworth said the woman was found on her back under the fourth car of the train.

Chad Sokol