Five-vehicle crash seriously injures two
BRIAN WALKER/Staff writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 11 years, 7 months AGO
<p>The suspected driver of a multiple car accident that sent a pair to the hospital, sits in an SUV where it came to rest after the incident Friday as emergency workers investigated the scene at Idaho-Washington state line.</p>
<p>Kootenai County and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies discuss details of the accident near a motorcycle that was struck by an SUV.</p>
STATELINE VILLAGE - A five-vehicle crash Friday afternoon resulted in serious injuries to a man and woman who were riding a motorcycle.
According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, a 1999 GMC Yukon was southbound on Wellesley at Seltice Way in Stateline Village around 3:30 p.m. when the vehicle collided with a motorcycle.
The driver of the Yukon, Richard A. Sundstrom, 66, Spokane Valley, failed to yield for the stop sign and collided with the 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was westbound on Seltice, according to the KCSO.
"Both the motorcycle operator, Thomas M. Little John, 60, of Bonanza, Ore., and passenger, Laureen E. Berry, 42, of Indian Hill, Colo., were ejected from the motorcycle," a KCSO press release states.
Little John and Berry were transported to Kootenai Health, where they underwent treatments for their injuries, which included several broken bones and lacerations. Little John is in ICU and is listed in critical condition. Berry is tentatively listed in serious condition.
No other injuries were reported in the incident.
After striking the motorcycle, the Yukon proceeded to travel into the lot of the nearby A-1 Smoke Shop, narrowly missing a gas pump and colliding with three unoccupied parked vehicles at the convenience store.
The Yukon pushed a PT Cruiser with Washington plates into the side of the store, and also struck a Ford Windstar van with Kootenai County plates and Mustang GT with Washington plates, causing heavy damage to all four vehicles.
Sundstrom indicated at the scene that his vehicle had a mechanical malfunction which contributed to the collision. Sheriff's deputies say that has not been verified at this time. He declined medical treatment.
"He came into the store and he was so scared," said Cynthia Kruse, manager of the Stop 'n Go convenience store next door, who went to the smoke shop due to mutual ownership of the businesses.
"The driver of the PT Cruiser was sitting in front of the car and managed to jet out of the way just in time."
The preliminary investigation revealed no alcohol or drug involvement.
Amber Halverson, general manager of the smoke shop, said she planned to turn a store video of the incident over to the KCSO for the investigation.
Eastbound traffic on Seltice was rerouted during the investigation.
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