UPDATE: Names released in deadly crash on Highway 75
UPDATE: 11/01/17 7:35 p.m.
Idaho state police have released the names of those involved in a deadly crash on Highway 75 in Custer County Tuesday morning.
ISP reports Susan Hobbs of Clayton was driving north in a Subaru Forester going into a curved part of the road. Jarin Smith of Blackfoot was driving south in a semi hauling a load of diesel fuel.
Hobbs crossed the centerline hitting the semi causing it to roll. Hobbs was not wearing her seatbelt and was killed. Smith was wearing his seatbelt and was able to get out of the semi with no injuries.
The southbound lane of Highway 75 was re-opened around 5 p.m. Tuesday night. Crews are still working to clear the scene.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A semi-tanker versus car crash has closed Idaho Highway 75 between Sunbeam and Challis. One person was killed in the crash. The crash occurred this morning near the East Fork Salmon River Bridge Complex at milepost 227, about 25 miles southwest of Challis.
The Idaho Transportation Department does not know how long the road will be closed at this time.
The crash involved a tanker carrying diesel fuel, which collided with a passenger car at approximately 8:45 a.m. The female driver of the car died at the scene.
The tanker overturned, spilling all of its 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel, which then caught fire. The fire burned nearly five hours, generating a cloud of black smoke and intense heat. The fire died out at about 1:45 p.m.
Volunteers from the North Custer County Fire District kept the fire in check until it consumed large pools of fuel. The fire is now smoldering.
Fuel reached and burned a culvert under the highway, but crews blocked the path of the fire, keeping it from spreading beyond the highway right of way. No fuel reached the river. A power line was also compromised.
Fire District Chief Launna Gunderson said the crash and fire damaged the roadway.
Emergency crews remain at the crash scene, and environmental officials are en route to the site, as are a cleanup contractor and wrecker.
The name of the crash victim has not been released at this time.
