Two killed in deadly plunge

BAYVIEW — Two people were killed on Sunday after the all-terrain vehicle plummeted off a cliff at the Bernard Overlook on Lake Pend Oreille.

Idaho State Police said Thomas W. McTevia was driving a 2013 Polaris and went over a cliff at the scenic spot overlooking the south end of the lake. The 42-year-old Coeur d’Alene resident and his passenger, Tina A. Hoisington, 45, of Lewiston were killed in the plunge.

Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS Chief Ron Stocking said the side-by-side utility terrain vehicle was traveling with others when it got too close to the edge of a 2,000-foot cliff. Stocking said there were witness reports that the group may have been setting up for a photograph when the accident happened.

Selkirk Firefighter Britain Whitley rappelled 500 feet to the first victim and descended on foot to the second-climbed to the second, who was 1,100 feet down the slope. Both were killed in the fall, Stocking said.

“There’s just no way to get a grip around this. It is a true tragedy,” said Stocking.

A helicopter from Two Bear Air Rescue was used to recover the bodies due to the ruggedness and remoteness of the

By KEITH KINNAIRD

News editor

BAYVIEW — Two people were killed on Sunday after the all-terrain vehicle plummeted off a cliff at the Bernard Overlook on Lake Pend Oreille.

Idaho State Police said Thomas W. McTevia was driving a 2013 Polaris and went over a cliff at the scenic spot overlooking the south end of the lake. The 42-year-old Coeur d’Alene resident and his passenger, Tina A. Hoisington, 45, of Lewiston were killed in the plunge.

Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS Chief Ron Stocking said the side-by-side

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utility terrain vehicle was traveling with others when it got too close to the edge of a 2,000-foot cliff. Stocking said there were witness reports that the group may have been setting up for a photograph when the accident happened.

Selkirk Firefighter Britain Whitley rappelled 500 feet to the first victim and descended on foot to the second-climbed to the second, who was 1,100 feet down the slope. Both were killed in the fall, Stocking said.

“There’s just no way to get a grip around this. It is a true tragedy,” said Stocking.

A helicopter from Two Bear Air Rescue was used to recover the bodies due to the ruggedness and remoteness of the terrain.

“It was just really steep with a lot of dead snags,” said chief pilot Jim Pierce of Two Bear, a philanthropically funded air rescue service based in Whitefish, Mont.

Pierce said Two Bear began its day in Idaho by rescuing a lost mushroom picker in Clearwater County and returned to Montana for a lost Alzheimer’s sufferer when it received the call from Bonner County.

“We go where we’re needed,” said Pierce. terrain.

“It was just really steep with a lot of dead snags,” said chief pilot Jim Pierce of Two Bear, a philanthropically funded air rescue service based in Whitefish, Mont.

Pierce said Two Bear began its day in Idaho by rescuing a lost mushroom picker in Clearwater County and returned to Montana for a lost Alzheimer’s sufferer when it received the call from Bonner County.

“We go where we’re needed,” said Pierce.