Slow down and pay attention when driving

I have been writing this letter since November 22, 2024. A little girl named Amelia was killed in a head-on crash near Elmira that day. I could not get her out of my mind.

It seems as I get older my kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids futures are very important to me. Amelia will always be 5 years old. Her future was cut short.

On Dec. 12, I encountered an extremely reckless driver in the Highways 95/2 area. It became my mission to do whatever I could safely do to stop what was happening. I called Boundary County Sheriff's dispatch and she was on the line when the individual, still speeding attempted to pass multiple cars and a semi at Brown Creek Road, which is at the base of the long hill going up to Bonners Ferry. The semi decided to turn on Brown Creek Road and the car had nowhere to go and I prayed that no one was coming down the hill. I watched the car pull into a gas station and a sheriff's deputy pulled in behind the car. On Monday, March 13, I testified against the driver. He will have a fine to pay. 

On Friday morning, I stopped in Bonners Ferry for coffee on my way to Sandpoint. I never do that. I was the sixth car in line outside of Samuels where a truck had collided with a semi. If I hadn't stopped for coffee I could have been in the middle of that. There were no emergency vehicles at the site so it had just happened.  God was with me on Friday.

 Please slow down and pay attention everyone. Don't be on your cell phone. The summer crowd is on their way. 

LIZ BENAGE

Bonners Ferry