Airmen stationed in Mountain Home believed to be involved in deadly I-84 crash
The seven-vehicle crash sent two people to the hospital and caused damage to the Cloverdale overpass, which is expected to remain closed until at least Monday morning.
Author: KTVB
Updated: 9:44 AM MDT June 18, 2018
BOISE, IDAHO -- Police say there were "multiple fatalities" in a fiery seven-vehicle crash that shut down Interstate 84 in Boise for hours on Sunday.
The stretch of interstate - between Eagle and Cole roads - reopened Sunday afternoon, 13 hours after the crash sent two people to the hospital and caused damage to the Cloverdale overpass, which will remain closed at least through Monday morning until repairs can be made.
Idaho State Police say a commercial vehicle and an SUV had slowed down near the Cloverdale overpass due to construction when a second commercial vehicle hit them from behind.
Four other vehicles were also involved the chain-reaction crash, which caused at least one vehicle to catch fire.
Ginger Bradburn was on the road at that time and says she narrowly missed colliding with one of the commercial trucks involved.
"The headlights were staring at me in my passenger side," Bradburn said. "I don't know how it didn't hit me. I don't know how, it should have."
Fortunately, Bradburn was able to quickly move out of the truck's path.
"Then all of the sudden I hear crashes," she said. "I looked in my rear view mirror and I saw flames. There were car parts all over the road."
Police say they are working with the Ada County Coroner's Office to notify family members of those killed in the crash.
Although the names of the dead and injured have not yet been released, Mountain Home Air Force Base said in a release that the accident "is believed to involve Airmen stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho."
The 366th Fighter Wing will release more information about those involved as it becomes available.
Both eastbound and westbound lanes were blocked for several hours as police investigated the crash.
The westbound lanes reopened by about 5 a.m., but the eastbound lanes remained closed from Eagle Road to Cole Road until almost 1 p.m. Sunday. The closure caused major backups on I-84 between the Meridian and Eagle exits. Adjacent streets, like Overland Road were also backed up due to the diverted traffic.
While the interstate has reopened, the Idaho Transportation Department said in a Twitter post that the Cloverdale Road overpass will remain closed at least through Monday morning while crews evaluate the extent of damage to the bridge, and make repairs.
Officials said commuters Monday morning will need to find an alternate route.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.