Two Idaho men injured in separate accidents on Wednesday

A pair of Idaho residents were injured last Wednesday in two separate, back-to-back accidents on Wednesday afternoon.

The first accident came at 1:02 p.m. Wednesday when emergency responders were summoned to mile-marker 7 on Pipe Creek Road for a one-vehicle motorcycle accident.

Larry Muegerl, 61, of Jerome, Idaho, was driving his 2010 Harley Davidson motorcycle northbound when a deer darted into his path. 

Muegerl immediately locked the rear brake to avoid hitting the deer and promptly lost control of the motorcycle, falling the motorcycle in the center of the road. 

Muegerl was transported to St. John’s Hospital for treatment.  Fortunately, he was wearing a helmet, which reduced his injuries significantly, according to Sgt. Duane Bowers of the Montana Highway Patrol. 

According to Bowers, alcohol/drug use was not a factor.

The second accident occurred more than two hours later — at 3:20 p.m. and responders were called to a one-vehicle rollover on U.S. Highway 2 at mile-marker No. 45.  

Upon Bowers’ arrival, Brandt Wilson, 34, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was driving his 2001 GMC pickup truck eastbound when he slowly drifted off the right side of the roadway. 

Wilson immediately responded and over-corrected his steering sharply back to the left, which caused his truck to rotate 180 degrees back across both lanes of traffic and into the east ditch.

After the vehicle entered the east ditch backward, it rolled over two full rotations, coming to rest on its wheels. 

Wilson was transported to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital for treatment. 

Wilson later told responders that he was using his cell phone while driving. 

Seatbelts were used and alcohol/drug use is not a factor in this crash. 

Citations are pending.

Bowers cautioned the use of cell phones while driving, texting while driving.

Bowers said cell phone use while driving is a cause for accidents, which are on the rise nationwide.  

Locally, the driving behavior exhibited by motorists visibly using cell phones that Bowers witnesses both on and off duty is appalling, he said.

“Many times, distracted drivers exhibit the same driving characteristics of a drunken driver,” he said.

Some examples are weaving on the roadway to include the opposite lane of traffic, speeding up and slowing down, tailgating, running red lights and stop signs in addition to the increasing number of crashes that seem to occur for no apparent reason. 

There are also a growing number of motorists who are doing the right thing by pulling off the roadway where it is safe to do so then using their cell phones to make or receive a call.  

“My thanks go out to all of these people who are also setting a good example for others to follow,” Bowers said.