A three-vehicle collision on U. S. Highway 95 near Viola briefly closed the road Saturday evening, resulting in two hospitalizations, according to an Idaho State Police news release. The crash occurred around 5 p.m. when a 19-year-old Viola man driving a 1999 Dodge Dakota crossed double yellow lines and sideswiped a northbound 2006 Dodge Ram driven by a 25-year-old Garfield woman. The Dakota then collided head-on with a 2024 Toyota RAV4 driven by a 73-year-old Potlatch woman.
The 19-year-old driver was taken to Gritman Medical Center in Moscow for serious injuries. The 73-year-old RAV4 driver was hospitalized for minor injuries. The Garfield woman was not injured. All parties were wearing seatbelts. U. S. 95 reopened around 6:45 p.m. after first responders cleared the scene. The crash remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.