Truck strikes 2 Litehouse employees near Sandpoint, killing one

Two employees of Litehouse Foods near Sandpoint were struck by a pickup truck while on a lunchtime walk Thursday. One was killed and one was critically injured, the Idaho State Police said.

The workers were walking along McGhee Road just north of the Litehouse headquarters in the former Coldwater Creek complex in Ponderay, Litehouse CEO Jim Frank said.

“They were on their lunch break and just went for a walk,” Frank said.

The employee who died has been identified as 61-year-old Katherine K. Stelzer of Mead. Her co-worker, 50-year-old Zualita L. Updike, was airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

The driver of the Chevy Silverado truck that struck the women is 22-year-old Peter F. Goullette of Sandpoint, according to the ISP. McGhee Road was closed for five hours while ISP investigated the crash.

Investigators have not yet determined if Goullette will face criminal charges, said ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker.

Frank released a statement on the accident Thursday evening. “Kathy was a part of our Litehouse organization for more than 15 years and was a valued colleague, good friend and cherished member of the Litehouse family of employee owners,” he wrote. “Our hearts and prayers go out to her family as we mourn the loss of Kathy at this very sad time.”

The employee-owned Litehouse makes salad dressings, veggie dips, sauces, instantly fresh herbs, blue cheese, caramel dips, fruit dips, glazes and fresh-pressed apple cider at facilities in Idaho, Michigan and Utah. It has about 650 employees.