Multi-car accident sends 7 to hospital
—Photo by ROGER BRANSCOME<br>After a three-car, multiple- injury crash, a few miles north of Ponderay, the MedStar helicopter used Highway 95 as a landing pad in order to pick up a patient Thursday evening. No further information on the accident was available at deadline.
SANDPOINT — A three-car collision north of Ponderay at about 4:50 p.m. sent at least a half-dozen people to the hospital on Thursday.
Bruce E. Bradley, 39, of British Columbia was southbound on Highway 95 when the 1997 Mazada 626 he was driving crossed the center line and struck the northbound 1996 Plymouth Voyager driven by Manuel Blanco-Mendez, 41, of Bonners Ferry.
The collision caused the minivan to spin out of control, according to Idaho State Police officials. The minivan crossed the center line and was struck by a southbound 1998 Jeep Cherokee driven by Sarah Mullaly, 33, of Castle Dale, Utah.
Two juvenile females in the minivan were ejected and were taken by helicopter to Deaconess Medical Center.
Bradley and his passenger, Veronica Hadikin of Prince George, British Columbia, were not injured in the accident.
Manuel Blanco-Mendez, 41, was taken to Bonner General Hospital, according to officials.
Also injured in the crash were passengers Rosolva Blanco, 40, Yesenia Blanco, 10, Carina Blanco, 20, Dianalaura Blanco, 9, and Mauricio Blanco, 3. Some of those injured were taken to Bonner General Hospital while others were taken by helicopter to Spokane.
Mullaly also was injured in the crash and was taken to BGH for treatment.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing, ISP officials said.