A quiet Saturday drive turned into a devastating tragedy for a family from Star, Idaho, when a pickup truck carrying four relatives left Arrowrock Road and rolled down an embankment into the Boise River. The crash happened around 2 p.m. on March 7 near milepost 19, south of the small mountain town of Atlanta in Boise County.
Authorities say 38-year-old Keith was driving the GMC truck north along the narrow dirt roadway with three family members inside. The group was traveling along the winding stretch that hugs the edge of the reservoir when the vehicle suddenly swerved to avoid another car on the road. In seconds, the truck drifted dangerously close to the edge.
Investigators say the vehicle slipped off the embankment and tumbled down the steep slope before landing in the cold river below. The violent rollover trapped two of the occupants as the truck came to rest in the water.
Two people inside managed to escape. A 35-year-old woman and one juvenile were able to climb out of the wreckage and reach safety. Emergency crews later transported them by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.
Keith and another young passenger, later identified by relatives as his son Decker, did not survive the crash. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, leaving family members and friends reeling from the sudden loss.
According to investigators, everyone inside the truck had been wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Even so, the steep terrain and the impact of the rollover made the accident impossible to survive for two of the passengers.
News of the tragedy spread quickly through the community. Relatives later confirmed the identities of the victims on a fundraising page created to help the family with funeral and medical expenses. By March 12, the page had raised more than $71,000 from people moved by the family’s loss.
Troopers continue to examine exactly what happened in those final moments on the narrow road along the reservoir. The investigation remains ongoing, with assistance from the Boise County Sheriff’s Office.
