A 58-year-old Garden City woman is fighting for her life after a two-vehicle crash shut down a busy stretch of Chinden Boulevard Friday afternoon. The collision happened around 1:35 p.m. at the intersection of Chinden Boulevard and 41st Street, sending the woman to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and closing the roadway for nearly four hours.
Garden City police officers were dispatched to the crash at about 1:35 p.m. and found two vehicles involved, along with a passenger suffering serious injuries, according to KBOI. Ada County paramedics transported the woman to a hospital. As reported by kivitv.com, the crash happened around 1:35 p.m. at West Chinden Boulevard and 41st Street and involved two vehicles.
Preliminary information indicates the woman was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash, the outlet's report notes. The Garden City Police Department's Traffic Collision Reconstruction Team responded to investigate, and as of the latest update, the investigation remained ongoing.
Roadway Reopened After Hours-Long Closure
Traffic was reopened to the public around 5:20 p.m. Friday, after being shut down for roughly four hours while crews worked the scene. Police have asked anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to contact the Garden City Police Department at 208-472-2950 or [email protected].
No further details have been released about the other vehicle involved or additional injuries. The woman's identity and hospital have not been made public.
Seat Belt Use Remains a Known Risk Factor
Seat belt use is a long-documented factor in crash survivability statewide. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate cited by the Idaho Transportation Department puts seat belts at roughly 50 percent effective in preventing fatalities and serious injuries. A separate state crash analysis found that of 47 passenger motor vehicle occupants killed in single-vehicle rollovers, only 14, or 30 percent, were wearing seat belts or riding in a child safety seat, according to the Idaho Transportation Department.
Separate Chinden Boulevard Safety Plan Under Review
The crash comes as ITD and Garden City have separately been gathering public feedback on proposed safety and drainage improvements for Chinden Boulevard, also known as U.S. 20/26. The updated concept removes a previously proposed center median, refines stormwater treatments, replaces free right-turn lanes with yield-controlled designs, and adjusts pedestrian crossings, as reported by idahonews.com. The agencies have described current conditions on the corridor as a challenge for people walking, biking, and driving.
That review marked the second opportunity for public input, after ITD and Garden City shared an initial vision for the corridor the previous summer, the outlet reported. Construction for the broader project is not currently funded.
