An 82-year-old Sandpoint resident died Thursday morning after his vehicle left State Highway 200 west of Hope and overturned in water, according to Idaho State Police.
The crash occurred at approximately 5:18 a.m. on July 30 near milepost 42 in Bonner County. The driver was operating a silver 2025 Jeep Compass eastbound when the vehicle gradually drifted from the roadway into the eastbound ditch, then traveled down a steep embankment before overturning in water.
The driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene. State Police did not release the driver’s name.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of serious crashes on North Idaho highways. A multi-vehicle collision on Highway 95 near Elmira earlier resulted in multiple injuries and closed the roadway, and a head-on crash on Highway 200 near Hope claimed the life of a 75-year-old Clark Fork woman in a collision with a semi-truck.
Highway safety officials continue to urge drivers to remain vigilant, particularly during early morning hours when visibility may be reduced and fatigue can impair judgment. The use of seat belts remains one of the most effective ways to reduce injury and death in vehicle crashes.
Idaho State Police conducted the investigation into the July 30 crash.