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Washington man dies in three-vehicle crash near Burley

Washington man dies in three-vehicle crash near Burley
Posted at 3:26 PM, Jul 04, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-04 17:26:56-04

A Washington man was killed following a three-vehicle crash near Burley.

Shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday, Idaho State Police troopers were called to the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 in Minidoka County.

They said Laura Smith, 53, of Kempner, Texas, was driving a 2007 Dodge pickup, towing a 2003 Cadillac Seville on a 2012 U-Haul trailer, eastbound on Interstate 84. Her passengers were identified as Richard Johnson, 81, of Deer Park, Washington, and Robert Smith, 59, also of Kempner, Texas.

James Petrik, 51, of Leavenworth, Kansas, was driving a FedEx commercial vehicle with double trailers westbound on the Interstate ISP said his passenger was Carlomagno Gomez-Candia, 57, of Olathe, Kansas.

Cody Cartisser, 18, of Jerome, was driving a 2003 Jeep Liberty westbound on Interstate 84.

According to an ISP report, Smith drove off the right shoulder, came back to the roadway, drove through the median, and struck the FedEx commercial vehicle. The Cadillac Seville she was hauling came off the trailer and struck the Jeep Liberty. All vehicles then came to a stop.

Johnson was flown by air ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, where he died from his injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.  

Both Laura and Robert Smith were taken by ground ambulance to Minidoka Memorial Hospital in Rupert.  Laura Smith was later flown to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, according to police.

Investigators said Laura Smith was wearing a seatbelt.

Cartisser was transported by a personal vehicle to the St. Luke's Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in Twin Falls, investigators said. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

The westbound lanes of Interstate 84 were blocked for five hours.    

The crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police -- with help from the Minidoka County Sheriff's Office, the West End Fire Department, and the Idaho Transportation Department.