St. Maries foreman shows ITD spirit on the road

Our transportation technicians and foremen do more than just road maintenance. Part of their job involves maintaining a presence on our highways and paying attention.

That’s why they are often the first people to come upon a crash scene. This was the case for St. Maries Maintenance Foreman Ross Farrell (pictured above) as he was driving on Idaho Highway 5 through Heyburn State Park on May 15.

A blue sedan went over the embankment just before Farrell drove by. Farrell noticed the vehicle and called dispatch before turning around to provide assistance.

“We have very limited cell service in our road section, so often we are the first on scene that can call in on the radio,” Farrell said.

Farrell, who carries warning signs for crashes, was able to set those up while waiting for Idaho State Police to arrive. He also checked in on the driver — who happened to be pregnant.

Thankfully, there were no injuries.

“This is a great example of what our people do every day,” D1 Operations Manager Jerry Wilson said. “It speaks to their character to not only notice these crashes but to also take action and stay on scene until help arrives.”

Published 06-14-19