A fatal head-on collision on U.S. Highway 95 near Viola, Idaho, claimed the life of a 36-year-old Moscow man on Friday night, according to the Idaho State Police. The crash occurred at approximately 8 p.m., prompting emergency responders to close both lanes of the highway intermittently for roughly three hours.
Crash Details on U.S. Highway 95
According to Idaho State Police reports cited by lmtribune.com and pullmanradio.com, the 36-year-old Moscow man was driving a 2007 Kia Rio sedan northbound when his vehicle crossed the centerline. The sedan collided head-on with a southbound car driven by a 19-year-old woman from Palouse, Washington.
Emergency medical personnel transported the driver of the Kia Rio to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Troopers stated that investigators have not yet determined whether he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the impact. The 19-year-old driver of the southbound vehicle sustained injuries and was also transported to a hospital for treatment.
Emergency Response and Ongoing Investigation
The collision required a coordinated multi-agency response along the U.S. 95 corridor. According to the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, the Moscow Fire Department, and the Idaho Transportation Department all assisted the Idaho State Police at the scene. Authorities closed both lanes of the highway for about three hours while crews investigated the wreckage, cleared the roadway, and managed traffic.
The Idaho State Police have confirmed that the crash remains under active investigation.
Concurrent Latah County River Incident
Near the same evening, Idaho State Police responded to a separate, unrelated vehicle incident further south near Riggins, Idaho. According to an ISP news release reported by lmtribune.com, a 74-year-old Riggins man died after his 2016 Hyundai Tucson left the northbound lanes of the road, went off the shoulder, and plunged into the Salmon River at approximately 7:20 p.m. Bystanders attempted a rescue at the scene but were unsuccessful.
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