A 48-year-old Bellevue man was transported to St. Luke's Wood River after being injured in a three-vehicle accident during a snowstorm Wednesday morning on state Highway 75 north of Hailey.
The Blaine County Sheriff's Office identified the man as John Ellison Jr. The department reported that Ellison was taken to the hospital "with a complaint of back pain" by Wood River Fire & Rescue ambulance.
The accident occurred shortly after 8:30 a.m. near the Highway 75 intersection with Aspen Lakes Drive. The Sheriff's Office reported in a news release that traffic had slowed in the area to allow a snowplow to enter the highway from the Idaho Transportation Department maintenance facility.
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James Sutton III, 18, of Hailey, was southbound driving a maroon 2006 Chevrolet Suburban when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle on the slick roadway and slid into the northbound lane. The Sheriff's Office reported that the Sutton vehicle then collided head-on with a northbound beige 2001 Chevrolet pickup driven by Ellison.
Next, Ellison's vehicle spun around and into the southbound lane where it collided with a white 2006 GMC pickup driven by Richard Boepple, 55, of Bellevue.
The Sheriff's Office reported that Sutton and Boepple were treated at the scene and declined to be transported. All drivers were wearing seatbelts.
The highway was closed in the area for about 50 minutes and traffic was rerouted onto Buttercup Road.
The Sheriff's Office reported Wednesday that no citations were issued and that the accident remained under investigation.
Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com
