Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Landscaping vehicles collide on highway

Richfield man in good condition following head-on crash

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Vehicles owned by two local landscaping companies collided head on Friday north of Ketchum on state Highway 75 near its intersection with Lake Creek Drive. The driver of this Webb Landscape pickup truck was listed in good condition Tuesday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Photo by Willy Cook

A 29-year-old Richfield man was listed in good condition Tuesday at a Boise hospital after being flown there on Friday following a head-on collision on state Highway 75 north of Ketchum.

Edwin Lucero was initially transported by Ketchum Fire Department ambulance to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center. He was taken from there by emergency helicopter to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.

The Blaine County Sheriff's Office reported Monday that Lucero suffered "hip and pelvis injuries" in the collision at about 1:18 p.m. near the Highway 75 intersection with Lake Creek Drive.

The collision involved pickup trucks belonging to two local landscaping companies, Webb Landscape and Wirth Co.

The Sheriff's Office reported that Lucero, southbound in a white 2008 Ford F-150 pickup owned by Webb Landscape, collided head-on with a northbound white 1999 Ford F-250 owned by Wirth Co. and driven by Romero Hernandez, 25, of Ketchum. The Wirth Co. vehicle was towing a utility trailer loaded with lawn equipment.

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Reading from an investigation report, sheriff's Capt. Curtis Miller said: "It says here that Lucero apparently drove left of center. Hernandez swerved to avoid the collision but was unsuccessful."

Hernandez and two passengers in his vehicle, Jose Hernandez, 26, of Ketchum, and Alejandro Garcia, 33, of Austin, Texas, were transported to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center where all three were treated and released.

Damage to the Webb vehicle was estimated at $15,000. Damage to the Wirth pickup, the trailer and lawn equipment was estimated at a total of $45,000.

"It is my understanding that the trailer opened up on the side and there was lawnmowers, weed eaters and lawn equipment everywhere," Miller said.

The accident remained under investigation and no citations had been issued. The accident report did not state whether any of the people involved were wearing seatbelts.

"I have no reason to believe alcohol was involved," Miller said.

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com

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