Three killed in pair of fatal crashes

SPIRIT LAKE — Two people are dead after a late Saturday crash on Highway 41 near Blanchard and a third was killed in a separate crash in Kootenai County the following day, according to Idaho State Police.

ISP officials said the two-vehicle crash occurred about 8:52 p.m. when the driver of a Toyota pickup was southbound near milepost 24 on Highway 41 and attempted to overtake a slow-moving vehicle. At the same time, a minor operating a dirt bike was northbound on Highway 41 without headlights and the two vehicles collided, ISP troopers said.

The driver of the Toyota pickup, a 50-year-old male out of Spirit Lake, was not wearing a seatbelt and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The rider of the motorbike also succumbed to his injuries at the scene. No age or hometown was given for the motorbike rider.

Highway 41 was blocked for approximately five hours. 

The collision was one of two fatal crashes in the region of the weekend, with a second fatal crash occurring Sunday at about 5:33 p.m. south of Rose Lake on Highway 3, about five miles south of I-90 in Kootenai County.

In that crash, a 20-year-old male from Cataldo lost control of his 2008 Hondo CR-V and drove off the pavement. The vehicle overturned and landed in the Coeur d'Alene River where it became fully submerged.

The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Highway 3 was blocked for about an hour before it was reopened for alternating traffic while the scene was being investigated, ISP officials said.

Next of kin for individuals involved in both crashes have been notified.