GEM COUNTY, Idaho -- Three people were flown to a Boise hospital after a head-on crash involving two pickup trucks on Highway 16 Tuesday morning.
The accident happened around 11:30 a.m. at mile post 9.5 between Chaparral Road and Jackass Gulch Road, near Freezeout Hill.
Idaho State Police, Ada and Gem County Sheriff's departments responded to a two-vehicle crash in the northbound lanes.
Wayne Ison of Emmett was headed south when he spotted the driver of a Nissan pickup trying to pass other vehicles, several at one time. He said drivers were swerving to avoid the Nissan, but one could not get out of its path. Ison estimates the two trucks were traveling around 65 mph upon impact.
Police say Heidi Lund, 40, of Caldwell was the driver of the 1989 Nissan pickup. She was northbound in the southbound lanes when she struck a 2005 Ford pickup driven by Pamela Crosby, 56, of Emmett. It was a head-on impact.
Lund and her passenger Darrell Lund, 39, of Emmett, and Crosby's passenger John Crosby, 28, of Emmett, were flown by air ambulance to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. The Lunds are listed in critical condition, while John Crosby is in serious condition. Pamela Crosby was not hurt.
Police say the Lunds were not wearing seatbelts, while the Crosbys were buckled up.
Police are still investigating the crash. It is unknown if alcohol was a factor.
The highway was blocked in both directions for more than two hours and traffic was diverted away from the crash while emergency crews responded.
We learned today that they were also three dogs involved in the crash. Two of them are still at large.
One dog is named Cam, and is gray and white. The other dog is named Otter, and is chocolate brown.
If you have seen either dog, you are urged to call Steve at 369-0549.
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