Crash closes US 20 in Fremont County

Idaho State Police say drowsy driving was to blame for an accident south of Island Park Tuesday afternoon. Idaho State Police say the a two-vehicle crash on US Highway 20 happened just before 1 p.m., near milepost 374, three miles west of Swan Lake. Police say “Aidan Trummell, 18, of Portland, Oregon, was driving a 2006 Saturn Vue eastbound on US Highway 20. Clayton Perry, 84, of Sugar City, was driving westbound in a 1990 Ford F250. Near milepost 374, Trummell fell asleep while driving, when his vehicle drifted into the westbound lane of travel. Trummell awoke and steered to the left, but still collided nearly head-on with Perry’s vehicle. Both vehicles went off the roadway and rolled approximately 70 feet down an embankment. Clayton Perry was transported via ground ambulance to Madison Memorial in Rexburg. Clayton’s passenger, David Perry, 57, of Sugar City, was transported to Madison Memorial via air ambulance. Clayton and David were then transported from Madison Memorial to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls via ground ambulance and air ambulance, respectively. Trummell was wearing a seatbelt. Neither of the occupants in Perry’s vehicle were wearing seatbelts. Both lanes of travel were blocked until approximately 3:14 p.m. The westbound lane of travel remained blocked until approximately 4:46 p.m. The Idaho State Police were assisted by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Transportation Department, and Ashton City Ambulance. The Idaho State Police encourages all drivers to pull over or have another driver take over when they begin to feel drowsy while driving.”