Man who died in motorcycle crash while fleeing from the Idaho State Police identified as Spokane man

The man who died in a motorcycle crash while fleeing from an Idaho State Patrol trooper Tuesday has been identified as 46-year-old Blaze E. Smith of Spokane.

The trooper attempted to pull Smith over after spotting him on a reportedly-stolen motorcycle on eastbound Interstate 90. Smith pulled into the Huetter rest area between Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene, then sped away when the trooper approached, according to the ISP. Smith crashed while attempting to enter the freeway and died at the scene.

Smith was wanted on a felony escape warrant and the motorcycle had been reported stolen in Washington, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. He has a lengthy criminal history in Spokane, including a standoff with SWAT in 2014. He has multiple convictions for vehicle theft and possession and/or delivery of a controlled substance.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.