Quick Facts at a Glance
- Time / Date: ≈ 1:15 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2025
- Location: U.S. 95 & W. Indian Valley Rd., 6 miles south of Cambridge (Washington County)
- Vehicles: 2002 Subaru Legacy (southbound, turning) and 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 (northbound, through-traffic)
- Casualties: 1 fatality (Subaru driver, 60-year-old Cambridge woman); 1 serious injury (Ram driver, 24-year-old Parma man)
- Road status: Both lanes closed ≈ 3 hrs for investigation and cleanup
- Agencies: Idaho State Police (lead), Washington County Sheriff, Cambridge Quick-Response, Life Flight Network, ITD
What Happened
According to the preliminary Idaho State Police reconstruction, the Subaru was traveling southbound on U.S. 95 and initiated a left turn onto W. Indian Valley Road. As the sedan crossed the northbound lane, it was struck broadside on the passenger side by the northbound Dodge Ram. Impact forces pushed both vehicles into the west shoulder.
Who Was Involved
| Vehicle | Driver | Safety Restraints | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Subaru Legacy | 60-year-old woman, Cambridge | Belted | Pronounced dead on scene |
| 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 | 24-year-old man, Parma | Belted | Air-lifted; condition undisclosed |
No passengers were reported in either vehicle, eliminating the need for a mass-casualty triage. Drug- and alcohol-screening samples were collected on site, standard for any fatal crash.
Timeline of the Response
- 1:18 p.m. – First 911 calls received; Washington County deputies dispatch EMS and Life Flight.
- 1:26 p.m. – First responder arrival; northbound traffic halted.
- 1:40 p.m. – Fire/rescue crews extricate Subaru driver; coroner confirms fatality.
- 1:55 p.m. – Life Flight departs with Ram driver to Saint Alphonsus, Boise.
- 2:10 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – ISP collision-reconstruction team maps scene, catalogs evidence.
- 4:21 p.m. – Tow-trucks clear roadway; ITD reopens both lanes.
Why Left-Turn Collisions Matter
Even on rural highways with 65 mph limits, most severe intersection crashes involve left turns across through-traffic. Contributing factors often include:
- Gap misjudgment – Drivers underestimate the closing speed of an oncoming vehicle.
- Obscured line-of-sight – Rolling terrain and roadside mailboxes here limit visibility.
- High closing speed – A pickup moving 60 mph covers 88 ft per second; a half-second mistake erases defensive-braking options.
Advanced driver-assistance tech (forward-collision warnings, cross-traffic alerts) mitigates some risk, but defensive driving—pausing a brief extra second before committing to a turn—remains the most reliable safeguard.
Road Closure & Community Impact
U.S. 95 is the only major north-south corridor between Weiser and Council. Tuesday’s three-hour closure forced a 43-mile detour via State 67 and Farm-to-Market Road, delaying local school-bus routes and potato-seed deliveries. ITD’s real-time closure alerts reached approximately 1,200 highway-app subscribers, but many truckers learned of the shutdown only at the two flagger points, reinforcing the value of keeping Idaho 511 notifications active.
Status of the Investigation
Idaho State Police will release a full crash summary after:
- Toxicology – Standard lab turnaround is 2–3 weeks.
- ECM downloads – Both vehicles’ event-data recorders will clarify pre-impact speeds and braking.
- Witness statements – Two motorists who were trailing the Ram have provided dash-cam footage.
Final findings will determine whether any traffic citations—or criminal charges—are warranted. Historically, similar left-turn-across-path crashes in Idaho result in either a failure-to-yield citation or, when aggravating factors such as impairment are present, a vehicular-manslaughter filing.
Safety Takeaways for Idaho Drivers
- Pause & look twice at every rural intersection; a single glance down the road often isn’t enough.
- Keep headlights on day and night in two-lane corridors to increase conspicuity.
- Buckle up, every seat, every trip—the fatal victim was restrained, yet serious side-impact forces still proved unsurvivable. Unbelted occupants fare far worse.
- Slow for turning traffic; if you see opposing vehicles edging into the intersection, ease off the throttle—reaction time is your best friend.
Moving Forward
The loss felt in Cambridge reminds us how quickly an ordinary midday errand can become life-altering. As more spring traffic heads toward Hells Canyon and the Weiser River Trail, vigilance at every crossover and driveway will be key to preventing a repeat of Tuesday’s tragedy.
Attorneys of Idaho will continue monitoring ISP updates and local court dockets. As always, our condolences go out to the family and community members affected.
