Meridian man dies on icy I-84

The icy interstate in Elmore County claimed another life last week with the death of a Meridian man.

Gonzalo Gonzalez, 54, was killed when the tan 2000 Audi four-door he was driving lost control on the slick roads Tuesday, Jan. 24, after passing a semi, and went off the left shoulder of the road, rolling several times in the median at milepost 107 on I-84.

A female passenger in the vehicle, Judith Morris, 57, was ejected from the vehicle during the rollovers, suffering back injuries. She was transport by Air St. Luke to St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Boise for treatment.

Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both drivers had been wearing their seatbelts.

Gonzalez was the fourth person to die on the interstate in the last two months in Elmore County. All of the fatal incidents involved poor road conditions.

The accident was one of literally scores of incidents reported on the interstate last week as snow and ice storms pelted the area.

Friday was particularly bad, with dozens of slide-offs reported in the snowy conditions, but there were not serious injuries reported.

"It's just people driving too fast for the conditions," said Chief Deputy Nick Schilz. "When the roads get like that, people just have to slow down and be more careful."