Two Ada County Sheriff’s deputies managed to avoid serious injury early Saturday morning when a car smashed into one of our patrol Tahoe’s on the side of Interstate 84.
The deputies were pulled over on the median side of westbound I-84, just east of Blacks Creek Road, and had the emergency lights on — and flares on the road — while investigating a rollover crash that happened earlier in the morning when our Tahoe was hit.
Initial reports indicate a 21-year-old man driving a car westbound on a snow-slickened I-84 just after 5 a.m. did not slow down and move over into the right-hand lane — but instead stayed in the left lane, lost control, and smashed into the back of the ACSO Tahoe.
One of our deputies was in the Tahoe’s driver’s seat and another was standing outside, talking to the other deputy through an open window, when the crash occurred.
Both deputies saw what was about to happen, so the one standing outside dove out of the way while the other braced for impact.
The car smashed into the rear driver’s side of the Tahoe, rolled over, and came to rest about 20 feet next to the wreckage of the car involved in the crash the deputies were sent to investigate about an hour before.
Both that car and the Tahoe sustained heavy damage.
Paramedics treated our deputies at the scene and later took them to a local hospital, where they were treated and released.
Paramedics treated the driver of the car, 21-year-old Dustin M. Peters, at the scene. He was not taken to the hospital.
Idaho State Police cited Peters on a charge of reckless driving in connection with the crash.
It’s fortunate our deputies managed to avoid serious injury — and a tribute to their ability to pay close attention to their surroundings at all times.
Crashes like this are why we ask drivers to slow down and move over when law enforcement vehicles are stopped on the side of any road — especially during slippery winter driving conditions.
Snow began falling in the Treasure Valley just before 9 p.m. Friday night and dropped about a ½ inch of snow on the ground by midnight, creating slippery driving conditions for the first time this winter.
By 11 a.m. Saturday, our dispatchers took reports on 25 crashes (3 with injuries) and 10 slide-offs in Ada County.
We are asking drivers to please slow down and ensure you have plenty of stopping distance when snow and ice coat our local roads and highways.