Man Taken To Hospital After Car Stalls

A stalled car on a highway turned into a traffic accident in early Sunday morning.

Jake Chapman, 22, of Idaho Falls was travelling westbound on U.S. Highway 20 in a 2000 Audi A4, when his vehicle stalled just past the Lindsey onramp at 4:45 a.m., Idaho State Police said.

Angel Ruiz, 19, of Ammon arrived on scene to jump start Chapman’s car. Ruiz was driving 1993 Honda Civic. Both cars were stopped in the right lane of travel. Ruiz had turned his car around so the Audi and Honda were facing each other, when the Audi was struck from behind by a 2003 Buick Centra.

The Buick was driven by Brett Ballard, 49, of Idaho Falls. When the Audi was struck, it was pushed into the Honda, and Chapman was caught between the two vehicles.

Chapman was transported to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by ground ambulance with injuries that were not life threatening. Neither Ruiz nor Ballard sustained any injuries. Ballard had been wearing his seatbelt. Police said neither road conditions nor alcohol are believed to be a factor in this crash.