COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (AP) - A good Samaritan who stopped to help at a car crash in northern Idaho managed to get her three children out of her own vehicle before it was stolen and involved in an even more serious crash, police said.
Authorities say 33-year-old Kara L. Powers of Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday crashed her Mercedes sport utility vehicle into a Subaru and then stole the good Samaritan’s Volvo, from which she had to be extricated following the second crash on Lake Coeur d’Alene Drive.
“It was just crazy,” witness Scott Maclay told the Coeur d’Alene Press (https://bit.ly/LUy8ef). “You never see that kind of stuff in that area. It’s normally very quiet.”
Police said the initial crash happened about 7:30 a.m. when the 61-year-old driver of the Subaru turned onto Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive heading west. She reported that the Mercedes approached her vehicle on the wrong side of the road and that she was unsuccessful in getting out of the way.
A 42-year-old Coeur d’Alene resident then stopped her Volvo to render aid. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said Powers then walked over to the Volvo and got in with the three children, ages 8 to 13, still inside.
Police say a brief scuffle ensued between Powers and the Volvo’s owner, and the children escaped from the car. Powers than took off, police said, and rear-ended a Dodge pickup at high speed, causing both vehicles to roll multiple times.
Police said Powers had to be extricated from the Volvo with serious injuries and was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash. A hospital spokeswoman said she was listed in satisfactory condition Wednesday.
The driver of the pickup was taken to Kootenai Health and was in stable condition.
The three children were also taken to Kootenai Health where they were treated and released. Others involved in the series of events were either uninjured or treated and released.
The newspaper reports that Powers has a previous booking in the county for driving under the influence and unlawful use of prescription medication. Authorities said toxicology results following the two crashes are pending.
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