Three hospitalized after multi-vehicle crash near Soda Springs

SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho state police is investigating a five-vehicle crash that sent three people to the hospital during Wednesday's dust storm on State Highway 34 just north of Soda Springs.

The incident began when several vehicles were stopped on northbound State Highway 34, waiting for a dust storm to pass. ISP says a 2024 Toyota Prius then attempted to pass these stopped vehicles, leading to a chain of events that ended in the multi-vehicle collision.

When the Prius tried to re-enter the northbound lane of travel, it blocked the southbound lane. At the same time, a 2005 Dodge Ram, driven by a 66-year-old male from Soda Springs, Idaho, also traveling northbound, attempted to pass. ISP says the Ram sideswiped a stopped 2003 Chevrolet Silverado before striking the Prius. The force of the impact caused a 1996 Dodge Dakota (driven by a 28-year-old Pocatello man) to collide with a 2005 Acura (driven by a 23-year-old Preston woman).

Emergency responders transported the 49-year-old male driver of the Prius, along with his two passengers, to a local hospital. While most involved in the pileup were wearing seatbelts, ISP confirmed that one passenger in the Prius was not restrained at the time of the crash.

The wreckage and subsequent investigation stalled traffic on State Highway 34 for around 3 hours on Wednesday. The crash remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.