Driver killed in rollover crash after striking elk on U.S. 33

UPDATED: March 17, 2026, at 3:50 PM

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — An early morning accident on U.S. 33 turned deadly Tuesday after a driver struck an elk and was thrown from the vehicle.

According to Teton County Fire and Rescue, the accident occurred shortly after 7:00 AM near mile marker 119. The driver, a 35-year-old Rexburg man, was traveling east on U.S. 33 in a 2003 Ford F150 pickup.

His truck struck an elk in the roadway, and the driver lost control as the Ford rolled off the right shoulder of the road. TCFR says their crews arrived on the scene to find the driver had been thrown from the vehicle and died of his injuries at the scene.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

While the victim's identity has not yet been released, TCFR issued a statement saying, "Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and those close to the victim."