Six injured in highway crash

PRIEST RIVER — Six people were hospitalized Wednesday after a two-car crash on Highway 2 near Priest River.

Idaho State Police said John D. Kuhn, 65, of Newport was eastbound at a high rate of speed on Highway 2 at 10:21 p.m. when his car struck the rear of a Chevy Express Van driven by Mary F. Pearson, 54, of Redmond, Wash.

After striking Pearson’s vehicle, Kuhn’s 2013 Honda Accord and left the north shoulder, coming to a rest. Pearson’s vehicle left the south shoulder of the highway where it struck the embankment three times, rolled , and came to a rest on its tires. A passenger in Pearson’s van, Caitlin J. Pankratz, 18, of Bothell, Wash., who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and was transported to Newport Hospital.

Kuhn, who was wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Kootenai Health. Pearson was transported to Bonner General Health, as was passenger Keirsten Sprick, 17, of Redmond, Wash., who was later transported to Kootenai Health

Both Pearson and Sprick were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.

Passengers Kelsie L. Jelsema, 18, of Redmond, and Brielle Babcock, 17, of Bothell, were transported to Newport Hospital and Kootenai Health respectively. Both were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to an ISP press release.

Idaho State Police said the accident closed the road for four-and-a-half hours. An investigation is ongoing.