Two youth hurt in Fruitland traffic miscue
By Larry Hurrle
Argus Observer
Friday, October 24, 2008 11:17 AM PDT
FRUITLAND — Two 12-year-old girls were taken to Holy Rosary Medical Center Thursday evening after they were apparently struck by a pickup near Fruitland City Hall.
Idaho State Police Trooper Shawn Klitch said the girls were standing at the southeast corner of the intersection of Southwest Third Street and U.S. Highway 95 when they attempted to cross the highway and were struck by the pickup.
Klitch said a vehicle going south turned into the turn lane when the girls apparently attempted to cross diagonally toward the Fruitland Nursery. He said a pickup in the left, northbound lane, driven by Michael Payne, 41, Fruitland, struck the girls at around 6:30 p.m.
"He locked up the brakes trying to avoid them," Klitch said.
Klitch said he believed three girls were involved, but only two were struck. He said both the girls struck were injured, at least one of them seriously.
There was no report available on the condition of the girls.
Klitch said no citations have been issued, and the accident is still under investigation. Northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 95 were blocked for more than one hour while ISP reconstructionist experts surveyed the crash site.
There is no crosswalk across U.S. 95 at that location.
