Deadly crash still being investigated

SANDPOINT — A chain-reaction crash on U.S. Highway 95 crash that killed an Oregon truck driver nearly six months ago remains under investigation, according to Idaho State Police.

No charges have been filed in connection with the Jan. 21 pileup at Cocolalla Creek that claimed the life of James Mady, a 49-year-old from Creswell, Ore. State police declined a public records request for toxicology reports from the crash, citing the ongoing investigation.

State police also indicated in the notice of denial that the toxicology reports are exempt from public disclosure for reasons of confidentiality.

State police said Zachary Henager was southbound in a Mazda coupe when he lost control, crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer driven by a 58-year-old from Colville, Wash.

That northbound semi then collided with Mady’s tractor-trailer, which was southbound, the report said.

Mady was killed and Henager, 23, of Sandpoint, was seriously injured. The driver of the semi Henager crashed into was injured, but he also survived.

As that series of collisions unfolded, a southbound Peterbilt hauling an empty fuel tank and a northbound Volvo tractor-trailer sideswiped one another while attempting to avoid the snarl of wreckage they were bearing down on. Neither of those drivers were injured, according to ISP.

A crash report obtained by The Bee in a February public records request cited Henager’s over-correction and excessive speed as contributing circumstances in the crash. The toxicology results were still pending at that time.