Shelley woman dies in auto crash

IDAHO FALLS: A Shelley woman and an Idaho Falls man died in an early Thursday morning head-on collision west of Idaho Falls on US Highway 20.

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, at approximately 6:18 a.m., the Idaho State Police investigated a four-vehicle, two-fatality crash on US Highway 20 at mile marker 286.5, west of Idaho Falls.

The Bonneville County Coroner released the names of the deceased as 25-year-old Angelica Riojas from Shelley and 49-year-old Jeremy Jennings from Idaho Falls.

According to the Idaho State Police preliminary report, a 2009 Dodge Journey, driven by 25-year-old Angelica Rioja of Shelley, was driving eastbound on US Highway 20. The Journey crossed the center line and sideswiped a westbound 2013 Dodge Charger from Rigby, driven by a 43-year-old male. The Journey continued in the westbound lane and struck a 2006 Nissan Sentra, driven by 49-year-old Jeremy Jennings of Idaho Falls. A westbound 2012 Ford F-150, driven by a 61-year-old male, from Dillsboro, Indiana, could not stop and struck the Journey.

Rioja, the Journey driver, and Jennings, the Sentra driver, succumbed to their injuries at the crash scene. The drivers of the Charger and the F-150, along with two juveniles from the Journey, were taken to local hospitals by ground ambulance.

Both Rioja and Jennings were reportedly not wearing their seat belts. The driver of the Charger and the F-150 were wearing seatbelts. The juveniles were properly restrained.

The roadway was blocked for 3 hours and 45 minutes for emergency crews to clear the scene.

The crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.