Fatal Injury crash in Caldwell, ID

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE – generated by our News Release ListServer
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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
Region 3 Patrol 700 S. Stratford, Meridian 83642
(208) 846-7550
Fax (208) 846-7520

For Immediate Release: September 23, 2009 at 10:25 a.m.
Contact: Captain Richardson

On September 23, 2009 at approximately 8:00 a.m., officers from the Idaho State Police, Canyon County Sheriff's Office, and Caldwell Police Department responded to a fatal injury crash on Indiana Ave, south of E. Ustick Road, in Caldwell, ID.

A school bus from the Valley View School District, driven by Chandra Wilhite, 28 years old, of Nampa, ID, was traveling north on Indiana Ave, south of E. Ustick Rd. A 1998 GMC Sonoma pickup, driven by Shawn Heckathorn, 17 years old, of Caldwell, ID, was traveling south on Indiana Ave., south of E. Ustick Rd. The GMC Sonoma crossed the center of the road and struck the school bus head-on. The school bus was transporting approximately 40 children between kindergarten and high school age to Thomas Jefferson Charter School in Caldwell, ID.

There were no significant injuries to the students on the bus or to the bus driver. The students were transported from the crash scene to the school by another school bus.

Heckathorn was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. He was pickup was wearing his seat belt, and the airbag did deploy. Heckathorn was a student at Caldwell High School. Next of kin notification has been made.

The Idaho State Police, with assistance from Caldwell Police Department and Canyon County Sheriff's Office, is investigating the crash.

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Posted in District 3 - Western Idaho