Semi crashes through guardrail into KRI parking lot

BONNERS FERRY — A tractor-trailer with a lightweight load of styrofoam packaging lost control and slid through a guardrail on Bonners Ferry’s South Hill just after 9 a.m. Feb. 20.

The semi rolled on its side and slid down an embankment, nearly striking a garbage truck idling in the Kootenai River Inn parking lot. The driver of the semi, Mahmoud Kia from Vancouver, B.C., was shaken up but unhurt and had to kick out the windshield to escape.

Clyde’s Towing from Sandpoint was called to recover the semi and had to cut away the hitch plate in order to free the trailer. The recovery team was able to tow away the trailer but the truck was lodged against a concrete light post pillar and severely damaged.

Crews worked until late in the day Thursday and drew quite a crowd of onlookers from the Inn. The accident followed an earlier accident by a passenger car in the same location.