Fatal pedestrian collision under investigation
SANDPOINT — A collision that claimed the life of one pedestrian and injured another on Thursday remains under investigation, according to the Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office.
Idaho State Police said Peter Franklin Goullette was driving southbound on McGhee Road in a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck when he struck two pedestrians who were also headed southbound.
Katherine K. Stelzer died at the scene and Zualita L. Updike was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. Updike, 50, of Clark Fork, was listed in critical condition but her condition was upgraded to stable, according to a published news report on Friday.
Updike and Stelzer, a 61-year-old Mead, Wash., resident were on stroll while on a lunch break from their jobs at Litehouse Foods, according to a statement from the company.
Litehouse CEO Jim Frank said he was saddened by the incident.
“Kathy was a part of our Litehouse organization for more than 15 years and was a valued colleague, good friend and a cherished member of the Litehouse family of employee owners. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family as we mourn the loss of Kathy at this very sad time,” Frank said.
Goullette tried performing CPR at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, Spokane television station KHQ reported on Friday. He apparently told investigators he was adjusting his child’s seatbelt when the collision occurred.
Goullette, 22, was arrested on a probation violation following the collision. Goullette allegedly admitted smoking marijuana several weeks ago, which violated the terms of his probation in a unlawful weapons-possession case.
Goullette was barred from possessing firearms due to after being convicted of a 2012 burglary. He was found in possession of a 9-millimeter pistol and a .22-caliber revolver in April 2015. He pleaded guilty to the offense and was ordered to serve a one- to three-year prison term. Jurisdiction was retained, which qualified Goullette for probation after serving four months in an Idaho Department of Correction facility, court records indicate.
The fatal pedestrian collision is also cited as a probation violation but is not elaborated upon in court documents.
Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall said the matter remains under investigation and that his office is in close contact with Bonner County Sheriff’s investigators, ISP and IDOC parole and probation officials.
“We will file charges if the investigation shows they are warranted,” Marshall said on Friday.
Goullette was arrested for resisting arrest and racing on a public roadway in February following an alleged road rage incident in Sandpoint. He allegedly confronted Garrett Mitchell Huckaby about driving recklessly on Cedar, an allegation that the Huckaby also accused Goullette of.
Huckaby, 20, told Sandpoint Police he felt threatened by Goullette and armed himself with a semiautomatic pistol, court records indicate.
Goullette said he grabbed Huckaby’s hand and the weapon discharged. Huckaby told police that the gun discharged accidentally during the struggle.
There were no injuries, although Goullette said the pistol discharged near his head.
Huckaby was also cited for racing, although it was reduced to speeding, according to the Idaho Supreme Court Data Repository. The racing charge against Goullette was dismissed, the repository states.
There have been as many as three serious pedestrian collisions in Bonner County this year.
Mark E. Bouse was seriously injured when he was struck by a passing motorist on Selle Road in February. Craig Matthew Lewis was charged with inattentive or careless driving. Lewis, 67, is pleading not guilty to the misdemeanor offense, according to the repository.
Jordan T. Williams was found gravely injured on Boyer Avenue after reportedly being struck by a passing motorist in April. That collision remains under investigation by state police.