For the week of Aug 28 - Sept 3, 2002

Five youths injured 
in single-car crash

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By GREG MOORE
Express Staff Writer

Five youths, all but one from Twin Falls, were hospitalized Aug. 21 following an accident in which their convertible rolled six times on Highway 75, south of the Timmerman Hill intersection at U.S. 20.

Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling said the group had been camping at Stanton Crossing on the Big Wood River and attending a late night party there. They headed back to Twin Falls shortly before 7:30 a.m. in a Geo Tracker convertible registered to the driver’s father, Gary Asher.

Just south of Timmerman Hill, the car veered off the right side of the road. The driver, Casie Asher, 15, overcorrected and drove across the highway. The car rolled six times, ejecting all four passengers, none of whom was wearing a seat belt. Asher, who also was not wearing a seat belt, was trapped in the car.

Asher and April Miller, 15, were transported by Life Flight to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Asher was reported released Saturday. Information was not made available on Miller’s condition.

Josiah Cahan, 17, of Lincoln City, Ore., and Alexander Anderson, 17, and Camie Asher, 12, were taken by ambulance to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. Cahan was later transported by helicopter to Saint Al’s. Camie Asher was reported released the same day, Alexander was released Thursday and Cahan on Friday.

Femling said Casie Asher, at 15 years old, had only a learner’s permit, and was thus driving illegally. He said Gary Asher told a deputy investigating the accident that he had bought the Tracker for his daughter and knew she was driving on that trip with only a learner’s permit.

Femling said alcohol was served at the party the group was attending. However, he said, results of a test done on blood drawn from Asher have not yet been obtained, and it is not yet known whether she had been drinking.

"We’re working with the prosecuting attorney to see what charges we want to pursue," Femling said. "There definitely will be charges."

On Sunday, a Blaine County man was injured in a two-car accident on Highway 75 at The Meadows mobile home park, south of Ketchum.

Femling said Michael Tirado, 18, was southbound on the highway at about 10 p.m. in a Nissan Sentra when he attempted to make a left turn into The Meadows. He turned into the path of a northbound Nissan Pathfinder driven by Fernando Chavez-Zavala, 17, from Shoshone.

Tirado’s car was hit broadside and knocked into the east side borrow pit. He was not wearing a seat belt and sustained injuries to his chest, head and knees. He was treated at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center and released the same day. Chavez-Zavala, who was wearing a seat belt was unhurt.

Tirado’s car was totalled.

Femling said the accident is still under investigation, but that Tirado will probably be issued a citation for failure to yield.

 

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