Newport woman killed in I-90 crash

PINEHURST – A Newport woman was killed last Thursday morning after the pickup she was in crashed into Pine Creek.

Idaho State Police reports that on July 25 at approximately 11:50 a.m., David V. Bell, 61, of Newport, Wash. was traveling eastbound on Interstate-90 in a white 1999 Ford F350 pickup with one passenger, Lorrie L. Bell, 54, also of Newport, Wash.

For a currently unknown reason, the vehicle suddenly went off the roadway just north of Pinehurst Exit 45 and continued through a grassy/wooded area until it crashed into the waters of Pine Creek- landing on its top.

As a result, Lorrie was ejected from the vehicle. She was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Medical crews from Shoshone County Fire District No. 2 responded to the incident and pronounced Lorrie deceased at the scene.

David was transported to Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene with non-life threatening injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt.

Law enforcement personnel with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office and ISP were first on scene and also provided traffic control.

Traffic on I-90 was reduced to one lane and the Pinehurst Exit was closed for the duration of the cleanup.

While it is has not been confirmed, statements collected from the driver and witnesses point to vehicle malfunction as the cause of the crash. As of July 29, officials were waiting on results of an inspection of the truck by a mechanic to confirm this theory.

Notifications have been made to the next-of-kin and ISP is continuing their investigation.