A Sandpoint family is mourning the loss of two of its own after a head-on collision on U.S. Highway 95 near Sagle claimed the lives of a teenage boy and his stepfather on Memorial Day. McCoy “Coy” Jensen, 18, and Josh Pilch, 48, were killed Monday afternoon when the vehicle Jensen was driving crossed the center line and struck an oncoming pickup truck, according to Idaho State Police.
The crash occurred around 1:25 p.m. when Jensen, traveling southbound in a 2011 Buick LaCrosse, veered into the northbound lane and collided with a 2021 Dodge Ram 2500. Pilch was riding as a passenger. Both died at the scene. The two occupants of the truck, identified as Kurt Hoopes, 65, and Franny Hoopes, 59, recently retired residents who had moved to Sandpoint, were transported to a hospital with serious injuries. All four individuals were wearing seat belts. Idaho State Police are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.
According to a family friend, Jensen had been driving Pilch to the airport so he could travel out of town for work. Pilch owned and operated Pilch Construction and Excavation and had recently taken on a new position that required him to fly out Monday.
A Community Grieves Two of Its Own
Word of the tragedy spread quickly through Sandpoint, and by Monday evening, an estimated 800 people gathered at City Beach for a community vigil in honor of the pair. The outpouring of support reflected just how deeply rooted both Jensen and Pilch were in the close-knit North Idaho community.
Family friend Blake Ambridge described Jensen as someone whose warmth was impossible to miss. “He was just always a happy person that was always excited to see people,” Ambridge said. “He cared about people, he always tried to think positively and he was willing to help.”
Another family friend, Nick Watson, remembered the morning of the crash with particular weight. Jensen had been at Watson’s home earlier that day, waking up with friends to head to the beach, watch the sunrise, and play volleyball. “He was the life of the party, everybody wanted him around,” Watson said. “The kids all loved him.”
Watson spoke equally fondly of Pilch, describing him as the kind of person whose loyalty ran deep once you earned it. “He’s kind of a rough guy if you don’t know him, but once you get to know him, he’s the kind of guy who would do anything for you,” Watson said.
Kortney Leavitt, another close friend of the Pilch family, echoed that sentiment. “A lot of us have benefited from a lot of love and service from them,” she said, “and in turn, we all love them so much. And this is just heartbreaking for all of us.”
Jensen Was Days Away From Graduation, Planned Mission to Chile
Jensen had turned 18 earlier this month and was scheduled to graduate from Sandpoint High School on June 5 — just days away. He was a swimmer and tennis player for the Bulldogs, and his senior season produced two state relay titles alongside school and state records. Sandpoint’s swim team also claimed its second consecutive 5A state team title during that run.
Beyond athletics, Jensen was preparing for a two-year mission to Santiago, Chile, through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the same city where Pilch had completed his own mission roughly three decades earlier. “He was very excited about that,” Ambridge said.
Pilch, a father of eight, had been married to his wife Kim for approximately a decade. Jensen was her oldest son. Leavitt described Kim Pilch as a devoted, faith-centered mother who homeschools the couple’s younger children. “She’s a devout mom,” Leavitt said, “and in our community, people know her as that and know this is going to be very difficult.”
A GoFundMe established for the Pilch family had raised more than $51,000 as of Tuesday evening. A separate fundraiser for the Hoopes family, who face multiple serious injuries and a lengthy recovery, had raised over $3,000.
What Comes Next
Idaho State Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of the crash. Jensen’s graduation ceremony at Sandpoint High School is scheduled for June 5, where the school community will undoubtedly feel his absence. The Pilch family is expected to lean on the broader Sandpoint community — which has already demonstrated its willingness to show up — in the difficult weeks ahead. Those wishing to support the family may search for their GoFundMe campaigns online. For more on the Sandpoint community and its schools, see recent coverage of Sandpoint High’s volleyball program earning honors and updates from the Lake Pend Oreille area.