Untitled Document

ITD Mailbox

ITD efforts critical to search for children

ITD Director Pamela Lowe

The Blaine County Sheriff’s Office would like to recognize the assistance of several Idaho Transportation Department employees who were vital in saving the life of one child and finding the body of another in a recent tragic incident.

On December 25, 2008, during a search for the two lost children, Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies were informed that our local Road and Bridge Department was not able to clear the West Magic Road of accumulated snow. Knowing that lives were in danger, one of our deputies contacted ITD Hailey Maintenance Foreman Steve Coles who agreed without hesitation to send Transportation Technician Brad Lynch to assist.

Brad Lynch’s efforts were critical in providing access to our deputies and search teams in their efforts to locate Sage and Bear Aragon. Due to the severity of the weather, two additional ITD plows, driven by Transportation Technician Fred MacDonald and Maintenance Foreman Steve Coles, also arrived to assist in the search.

These men performed a huge service to all of the law enforcement personnel present at the scene and should be recognized for their efforts.

The entire staff of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office wishes to applaud the actions of Steve Coles, Brad Lynch and Fred MacDonald during this critical incident. We believe that their actions had a direct affect on saving the life of Bear Aragon.

J. Walt Femling
Blaine County Sheriff