Roll-over accident injures teen driver
—Photo by ELAINE SANDMAN<br>A Chevy Suburban lays on its roof after striking a high voltage power pole last Friday, which launched it into the air causing it to roll twice before landing on its top, according to a witness at the scene. The Suburban was driven by 17-year-old Rose Abraham. Another teenager, who was a passenger in the vehicle, Tabatha Covington, was treated and released at Boundary Community Hospital.
By ELAINE SANDMAN
Staff Writer
A 17-year-old teenager was injured after she was ejected from her vehicle Thursday night after losing control while trying to negotiate a curve near Moyie Springs.
Rose Abraham was transported to Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry and flown by MedStar to Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane. She was listed in stable condition last Friday evening and released on April 21.
A passenger, Tabatha Covington, was taken to Boundary Community Hospital, where she was treated and released.
Idaho State Police Trooper Kevin Bennett said Abraham was westbound on old Highway 2 near Moyie Springs when she overcorrected while trying to negotiate a curve.
Abraham lost control of her Chevy Suburban, slid sideways off the road and into a high voltage power pole. The vehicle continued past the pole into a fence where it overturned at least twice before coming to rest on its top.
Abraham was ejected from the vehicle and Covington crawled out on her own, according to eyewitness Rich Lozier, who lives across from where the accident took place.
Lozier said he was leaving his garage to go into his home when he heard a noise and saw motion out of the corner of his eye.
Turning to look he saw a vehicle in mid-air rolling over twice before it hit the ground.
The back rear axle flew off and at least two of the tires scattered over the ground, said Lozier.
Lozier said he saw an object in black that he thought was a person and rushed to call 911. He then grabbed some blankets to warm the young women who had been ejected from the Suburban.
At that time, he noticed Covington was walking around and he asked her if she was OK. At that point ISP, Moyie and North Bench volunteer fire departments arrived on scene with two Boundary Volunteer ambulances arriving shortly thereafter.
The high voltage electric pole hit by the Suburban was cracked and leaning at a 45-degree angle and Avista was called to the scene.
Bennett said Abraham will be charged with excessive drunken driving and driving without privileges.
"I have not had to respond to any serious alcohol related accidents in the past six months, so I had personally hoped that the community had learned from the previous incidents," Bennett said Friday morning.