POCATELLO, ID — Multiple people were hurt Wednesday night after three vehicles collided with a moose on Interstate 86 near the Pocatello Regional Airport. Idaho State Police said the crash happened around 10:30 p.m. in the freeway’s eastbound lanes.
At least two adults were taken to Portneuf Medical Center for treatment of injuries suffered in the wreck. Officials have not released their names or said how badly they were hurt.
The collision briefly shut down some lanes on the freeway while responders worked the scene.
Idaho State Police say three eastbound vehicles struck the animal
State police identified the vehicles involved as a 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, a 2003 Toyota Camry and a 2026 Hyundai Elantra. All three were traveling eastbound on Interstate 86 when they hit the moose.
The crash happened close to the airport, a stretch of road where drivers can suddenly encounter wildlife moving onto the freeway. Police have not said which vehicle struck the moose first or how the collisions unfolded.
The vehicle details released by investigators show that several motorists were caught in the same chain of events. State police said the wreck remains under investigation.
Fort Hall EMS transported at least two adults to Portneuf Medical Center
Fort Hall Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported at least two adults to Portneuf Medical Center. The hospital was the receiving facility for the injured passengers or drivers, according to state police.
Authorities did not say whether any other people were evaluated at the scene or whether additional medical transport was needed. The victims’ conditions were not made public Wednesday night.
With no names released, it is still unclear who was driving each vehicle or how many total occupants were involved. Police have only confirmed that multiple people were injured in the crash.
The moose died, adding to a deadly month for large-animal crashes
Authorities said the moose died in the collision. That makes it the second large animal to die in a serious crash on East Idaho freeways this month, following an elk that was struck on Interstate 15 near Malad on Sept. 14.
The earlier wreck killed Pocatello oral surgeon Dr. Mark Baker, 66, who was driving a 2022 BMW Z4 when it hit the elk south of Malad. The freeway was partially shut down for hours after that collision.
Wednesday night’s crash and the Sept. 14 wreck have put a sharp spotlight on how dangerous wildlife can be for drivers on regional interstate routes.
Interstate 86 traffic was disrupted while crews cleared the scene
The collision temporarily blocked some lanes on Interstate 86, forcing drivers to slow down or wait while emergency personnel and investigators handled the scene. Police did not say how long the interruption lasted.
Even a short closure can ripple through late-night traffic, especially near a major airport access area. In this case, the lane blockage was tied directly to the crash response and the need to move injured people to the hospital.
Investigators have not said whether speed, visibility or animal movement played any role. For now, state police are treating the wreck as an open investigation.
Large-animal collisions have already made this month a dangerous one on East Idaho roads
The timing of the crash matters because it came during a month already marked by another fatal wildlife collision on East Idaho highways. Both the elk and the moose involved in the September wrecks died in the crashes, underscoring the severity of the impacts.
Drivers on interstate corridors often have little warning when large animals enter the roadway. Wednesday night’s incident shows that even a multi-lane freeway can become hazardous in a matter of seconds.
State police have not announced any changes to traffic control or wildlife warnings tied to the crash. Their investigation into the Interstate 86 wreck is still underway.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
