BOISE -- Idaho State Police say a motorcycle crash that injured two people on Sunday happened after a Boise County Sheriff's Office deputy made a U-turn to catch a speeder.
Boise County Reserve Deputy David Lee was traveling southbound in a 2000 Ford Explorer patrol vehicle on a three lane part of Highway 21.
Douglas Towell, 53, and Chellus Towell, 43, both of Ontario, Oregon, were driving behind Deputy Lee on a 1989 Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The deputy saw a vehicle speeding in the northbound lane, braked, and began to turn around after the speeding vehicle. Towell braked on the motorcycle, causing it to go down and eject both of the passengers.
"I saw the bike fishtail and wobble," said Anne Pelletier, who was travelling behind the motorcycle at the time of the crash. "It just happened so quick. It was like no one had a chance to do anything."
ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker said that the motorcycle wrecked Sunday evening between Highland Valley Summit and Robie Creek Road. Baker says the motorcycle and the deputy's car did not collide. Witnesses say that the deputy's car's overhead emergency lights were in use, but Pelletier says they did not come on until he was already turning.
Both motorcycle riders were airlifted to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Douglas Towell is in stable condition and Chellus Towell is in critical condition. Neither were wearing helmets.
A deputy on scene said both people were conscious and breathing when they were taken away by an air ambulance.
The highway was blocked for about two hours.
"He was just trying to catch the speeders on Highway 21," said Pelletier. The Idaho City resident added that there are a lot of people breaking the speed limit, but the crash could have been avoided. She says quick U-turns don't always give other drivers enough time to slow down or stop.
Baker says it is not clear who is at fault in the crash, but ISP has taken over the investigation to prevent any conflicts of interest.
Anyone who may have been a witness to this crash is encouraged to call Idaho State Police at 208-846-7550. Troopers would specifically like to speak to the driver of a dark colored Hummer who was traveling in the northbound lane around the time of the crash.
