A 5-year-old Salmon girl was killed Thursday afternoon in a one-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 26 east of Carey.
The Blaine County Sheriff's Office identified the girl as Trinity Anderson. She was one of four occupants in a green 1995 GMC Yukon that went out of control and rolled about 2:45 p.m. a quarter-mile east of the intersection of Highway 26 and Fish Creek Road.
Sheriff's Lt. Curtis Miller reported in a news release that the vehicle was driven by Connie Smith, 66. Other passengers were identified as Anna Anderson, 35, and Mia Anderson, 12. Miller stated that all the vehicle occupants were from Salmon and were headed northeast on the highway, returning home from Boise, when the accident occurred.
Miller reported that Smith lost control of the vehicle and overcorrected, causing it to roll twice.
Jeff Nevins, Wood River Fire & Rescue assistant chief, said Trinity Anderson was ejected from the vehicle. An unnamed woman who happened upon the scene attempted CPR but efforts to revive the child were not successful, Nevins said.
Miller reported that Smith suffered neck and rib injuries and was transported by air ambulance first to St. Luke's Magic Valley Regional Medical Center in Twin Falls and later to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.
Anna Anderson and Mia Anderson suffered back, shoulder or wrist injuries and were transported by Wood River Fire & Rescue ambulance to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center.
The news release did not state whether the occupants of the vehicle were wearing seatbelts, but reported that the three passengers were "apparently asleep in the back seat" when the accident occurred.
The highway was closed for an hour and a half following the crash and then reopened for one-lane traffic for another two hours, Miller stated.
The accident remained under investigation this week.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
