BANKS, Idaho — Two people died and two others were injured in a head-on crash on Idaho 55 Monday afternoon.
The crash happened at about 1:15 p.m. at milepost 83 -- about four miles north of Banks, about 17 miles north of the Horseshoe Bend area.
According to Idaho State Police, the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado was heading south of the highway and attempting to pass a semi, which was in a slow-moving vehicle turnout.
The pickup truck crossed the center line of the highway and crashed head-on into an oncoming semi, police said.
The driver and passenger of the Chevrolet both died at the scene. Idaho State Police said the driver was 24-year-old Sophiah Mcvay Castro of Boise and her passenger was 23-year-old Emiko Pecchenino of Meridian.
The driver of the semi was taken by air ambulance to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. A passenger in the semi was taken by ground ambulance to the same hospital.
According to police, everyone involved in the crash was wearing their seat belts.
The highway was blocked for nearly five hours while police investigated and crews worked to clear the scene.
