Former Shelley man dies in head-on collision near Tetonia

TETONIA:  Brian Wright, formerly from Shelley, was killed after being struck head-on by a pickup attempting to pass a snowplow around 7:00 a.m. Friday, January 27, near Tetonia on State Highway 33.

Brian Wright, age 52, of Ammon, was driving westbound in a 2017 Ford commercial delivery truck on Idaho State Highway 33 when he was struck head-on by a 32-year-old male from St Anthony, driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, according to the Idaho State Police accident report.

A snowplow was the lead vehicle in a line of cars traveling eastbound. As the St. Anthony driver attempted to pass the line of cars and the snowplow, he struck Wright’s vehicle head-on. The force of the crash caused his pickup to spin and strike a 2010 Toyota Yaris driven by a 56-year-old male from Teton, who was also following the snowplow, the ISP report said. 

All drivers of all vehicles were wearing seatbelts, according to the ISP report. However, Wright succumbed to his injuries at the crash scene. The driver of the Chevrolet and his two adult passengers were transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital. 

State Highway 33 was blocked for approximately five hours as the crash scene was investigated and cleared. Idaho State Police was assisted by Teton County Sheriff’s Office, Teton County Fire and Rescue, and Idaho Transportation Department.