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Crash closes Interstate 84 for six hours

ITD maintenance, traffic and emergency crews responded to major crash on Interstate 84 Tuesday (Sept. 14) involving an unloaded log truck, a semi-truck and trailer combination and a passenger pickup truck.

Both westbound lanes were closed for more than six hours while crews cleaned up diesel and debris scattered along the interstate. Westbound traffic was diverted at the Gowen Interchange, exit 57, onto Gowen Road and then back to I-84 at the Orchard Interchange.

Steven L. Rodgers, 48, who had driven commercial trucks most of his life, died in the crash after being ejected from the eastbound log truck. The impact ignited diesel fuel and turned the log truck and pavement into an inferno.

Witnesses reported the log truck crossed the median and struck the side of a westbound semi-truck hauling frozen chickens. The refrigerator trailer separated from the truck, scattering the contents along the interstate. Its driver, Lewis Smith, 58, of Stevenson, Ala., was transported to a Boise hospital, as was Keith Edwards, 40, of Meridian, who was driving a pickup truck behind the semi.

In addition to ITD crews, responders included the Idaho State Police, Boise City Police, Boise Fire Department and Boise Fire Department Haz-Mat, among others.

It was the second time in less than a week that I-84 was closed for an extended period near Boise. The previous Thursday concerns over possible explosives in a vehicle being transported by semi-truck, resulted in a six-hour closure near the East Boise Port of Entry.

No explosives were found, but the investigation continued this week.

More crash photos