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Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
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ITD helps in removal of cars from Payette River

It’s not unusual for ITD’s District 3 maintenance crews to assist in the removal of wrecked vehicles from an interstate or a state highway. But this week, their work came on the wet side as crews helped with the removal of two wrecked cars from the scenic Payette River.

The Idaho Whitewater Association spearheaded the effort to pull a Chevrolet Tahoe and a Chevrolet Monte Carlo from the main channel of the Payette River, about one-half mile downstream from Banks. Other partners in the removal and making the river safer for recreational use were: The Idaho Northern & Pacific Railroad, Idaho State Parks and Recreation Department, Idaho State Police and Cascade Raft and Kayak.

“That was really impressive to me to see all these guys come together and make it work so smoothly,” said Greg Vitley, District 3 Environmental Planner.

ITD’s participation in the removal effort included:

  • Providing transportation for the vehicles from the railroad yard,
  • Assisting with funding for the heavy equipment operator,
  • Putting hazardous material crew on site to assist as needed,
  • Providing environmental support, and
  • Research VIN numbers to locate vehicle owners

The railroad brought a crane on the tracks along the west bank of the river to the site of the submerged cars. The Whitewater group, Cascade Raft and Kayak and Parks and Recreation hooked a chain to the car and attached it to a cable on the crane.

The Tahoe came out of the river Monday afternoon; the Monte Carlo was removed two days later. The vehicles were transported to the District 3 yard, where they await removal by ISP.

“Initially, the vehicles that were in the water were on our highways, and we like to see the environment clean,” District 3 Hazardous Materials Coordinator Dick Powell told KBCI Channel 2. “We want to be good neighbors.”

Now the Division of Motor Vehicles will match the vehicle identification numbers to the registered owners. The state police then will attempt to determine how the automobiles ended up in the river and who might be responsible.