6/24/2015
Early morning I-15 crash prompts freeway lane closure
BOISE - The northbound lanes of Interstate 15 remained closed today (Wednesday, June 24) while Idaho State Police (ISP) investigate a pedestrian versus vehicle fatal crash at milepost 89 near Blackfoot.
ISP reports that a pedestrian, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was walking in the right lane of northbound I-15. At the same time, Edward Kinney Jr., 59, of Pocatello, was driving northbound in a 2015 Kenworth hauling two fuel tankers.
Kinney swerved left to try to avoid hitting the pedestrian, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle drove along the left shoulder, where the rear trailer flipped and caught on fire. Kinney drove the semi back across both lanes of travel onto the right shoulder, where he disconnected the Kenworth from the burning trailers. Kinney parked the vehicle on the right shoulder once he reached a safe distance.
The pedestrian died of the injuries at the scene of the crash.
Southbound lanes of I-15 are currently open, but the northbound lanes remain blocked while the crash is investigated and Idaho Transportation Department crews assess damage to the highway surface caused by the resulting fire.