Idaho State Police release name of Exit 71 crash victim

At approximately 1:24 pm on Monday, September 01, 2008, Idaho State Police Troopers along with Ada County Sheriff's Deputies, the Boise Fire Department and Ada County Paramedics responded to reports of a wrong-way driver that had collided head-on with a semi-truck westbound on Interstate 84 east of milepost 71, near the Boise Stage Stop. Kayla Johnston, 20 of Boise, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Aveo, when she entered the Interstate using the westbound off-ramp traveling eastbound. Shortly after Johnston entered the Interstate her vehicle collided head-on with a 2008 Freightliner driven by Robert Hartgrove, 78 of Sweet, and then also hit a second semi-truck. Johnston died on the scene as a result of her injuries. The commercial vehicle drivers were not injured in the collision.

Both lanes of westbound and one lane of eastbound traffic were blocked at the scene of the crash. Units were able to re-route westbound traffic off of exit 74 (Simco Road) and back on the interstate at interchange 71 to keep traffic flowing. The eastbound lane was blocked for three hours and the westbound lanes were blocked for five hours while officers conducted their investigation.

The crash is under investigation by Trooper Beckner. He was assisted at the scene by Ada County, and the Idaho Transportation Department.