Air Ambulance called to Island Park area accident

UPDATE: 6-16

A herd of elk crossing U.S. 20 near the Mesa Falls Scenic Byway cutoff created a multiple vehicle crash that closed the highway for about 3 hours Friday night.

The elk were crossing the highway about four miles south of Island Park at 9:41 p.m. As traffic slowed, Travis Rydberg, 40, of Billings, Montana, who was pulling a boat and trailer in his 2014 GMC Sierra, stopped in the northbound lane.

Shawn Ellestad, 51, of Laurel, Montana was driving south in a 2008 Buick Lacrosse. Idaho State Police said Ellestad moved to the passing lane when he came on the slowed traffic. He did not slow in time to avoid the elk. Ellestad’s vehicle struck one elk, crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck Rydberg’s vehicle head-on.

Ellestad was flown by air ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC). His passengers, identified as Kathryn Ellestad, 48, and Fred Winters, 47, both of Laurel, Montana, were transported by ground ambulance to EIRMC. None were wearing seat belts.

Rydberg and one of his passengers, Daniel Joseph, 52, of Atlanta, Georgia, were transported by ambulance to Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg. Both were wearing seat belts. A third passenger, Jesse Miller, 36, of Boone, North Carolina was not injured.

ORIGINAL STORY:
A late Friday night accident closed Highway 20 just south of Island Park.

Idaho Sate Police say the accident happened near milepost 379, at the Mesa Falls Highway turnoff just before 10 p.m.

The Highway was blocked for about two hours as ISP and Fremont County Deputies worked to investigate and clear the crash.

One viewer contacted Local News 8 and said an air ambulance landed near the crash site.

There is no information yet on vehicles involved or injuries. We’ll update this story as more information is released.

The Highway was re-opened just after midnight.