Three people were injured Friday evening in a series of separate ATV crashes along a forest service road in the Coeur d’Alene National Forest, leaving a 17-year-old in critical condition, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office.
All three incidents occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Forest Service Road 209, near the Horse Haven Airstrip in Kootenai County. Authorities confirmed the three injured riders were part of the same group traveling together at the time of the crashes.
Two of the crashes resulted in multiple broken bones and head injuries, with those riders currently listed in stable condition. The third crash proved far more serious — a 17-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries and required CPR at the scene. First responders were able to restore a pulse, and the teen was transported for emergency care. As of the latest update, the minor remains in critical condition.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the emergency response to the remote location. ATV and off-road vehicle accidents on North Idaho forest roads are a recurring public safety concern, particularly during summer recreational season when use of backcountry trails increases significantly. Motorists and riders are reminded that crashes on rural and forest roadways can quickly become life-threatening due to distance from trauma care facilities. A recent injury crash on SH-41 at Mullan Avenue in Post Falls similarly highlighted the dangers facing Kootenai County roadway users.
No additional information on the identities of those involved has been released. The investigation into the circumstances of each crash is ongoing.