Coroner identifies man who died in fiery crash
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – UPDATE 1/26/24: The 21-year-old driver of the Ford Mustang that struck a propane truck on Wednesday along US Highway 20 has been identified.
Bonneville County Coroner Rick Taylor has confirmed the man as Chad Nelson of Rexburg.
Taylor says Nelson died from "multiple traumatic injuries" on scene.
The Idaho State Police says the Mustang lost control when it crashed into the propane trailer and started a fire, closing down lanes of travel.
All lanes on US 20 near exit 308 A are now open.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - UPDATE 1/25/24: The Idaho Transportation Department has reopened all lanes of U.S. Highway 20 at Exit 308 following a thorough inspection.
A fiery crash Wednesday had forced to the bridge to close to all traffic. Crews completed an inspection earlier Thursday morning and determined that damage was only cosmetic in nature.
UPDATE 4:00 p.m. The Idaho Transportation Department has reopened all lanes of U.S. Highway 20 at Exit 308 following a thorough inspection.
A fiery crash yesterday had forced to the bridge to close to all traffic. Crews completed an inspection earlier this morning and determined that damage was only cosmetic in nature.
UPDATE 10:00 a.m. The US 20 bridge over Fremont Ave. is still down to one-lane traffic.
UPDATE 6:05 p.m. Idaho State Police have opened westbound traffic on US 20 after vehicle debris was towed away. Eastbound traffic is projected to open later this evening.
UPDATE 5:15 p.m. A 21-year-old Rexburg man succumbed to his injuries after a crash at 12:43 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Idaho State Police, the man was driving westbound on US 20 in a 2008 Ford Mustang, and a 43-year-old Moore man was driving eastbound on US 20 in a 2015 Freightliner pulling a propane trailer.
Police say the Ford Mustang drove across the median and into the eastbound lanes colliding with the Freightliner. Both vehicles became engulfed in flames and were put out by the Idaho Falls Fire Department.
The driver of the Ford Mustang succumbed to his injuries at scene, and a ground ambulance transported the driver of the Freightliner to a local hospital.
Traffic on eastbound US 20 has been blocked for approximately four hours and is still blocked to allow emergency responders to assist those involved and clear the scene.
UPDATE 3:30 p.m. Idaho Transportation Department says the bridge at Exit 308 on US 20 will remain closed until their inspections are completed. The bridge goes over Fremont Ave in Idaho Falls. “Depending on how the inspection of the bridge goes, the highway could reopen as early as tomorrow,” Operations Engineer Jeremie Pettingill said in a news release Wednesday afternoon.
They also said no detour has been put in place. Travelers are asked to avoid the area and use alternative routes.
UPDATE 1:40 p.m. A portion of US 20 from I-15 to Science Center Drive is closed due to an accident involving a tanker truck and car.
Idaho State Police said the car somehow lost control and struck the truck while crossing the Fremont Ave. bridge at Exit 308 on US 20. The truck then swerved into the side wall of the bridge starting on fire.
Police didn't say if anyone was injured.
They're asking drivers to avoid the area until they can clear up the crash.
Currently, one lane of traffic heading westbound on US 20 is open. The off-ramp at Exit 118 on I-15 is closed.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - The Idaho Falls Fire Department is currently on scene of a semi truck fire on U.S. 20 over the exit at Fremont Avenue.
Officials say to avoid the area.
US 20 and Fremont Avenue are currently blocked.
We will update the story as more information becomes available.
