Two women die in crashes on icy roads

Icy roads contributed to a pair of auto accidents Tuesday that left two women dead in North Idaho.

The first accident, just after 2 p.m., happened on State Highway 6 in Latah County, not far from the Benewah County line. According to Idaho State Police, 23-year-old Ryan L. Clark was westbound in a 1994 Plymouth van when he failed to negotiate a curve on the icy road, crossed the center line and hit a 1996 GMC Sierra pickup head-on.

Clark’s 22-year-old wife, Martina Clark, was killed. Ryan Clark and his wife lived in Moscow, but his family is from St. Maries.

Another passenger, 21-year-old Travis Clark, was released from Gritman Medical Center on Wednesday.

The driver of the pickup, Stephen R. Sampson of Viola, Idaho, was transferred from Gritman Medical Center to Seattle for treatment there, a nursing supervisor said. He was in stable condition.

Just before 9 p.m., a second accident about 10 miles north of Bonners Ferry claimed the life of another woman.

Idaho State Police reports said 49-year-old Joseph T. Rogerson of Alberta, Canada, was southbound on Highway 95 when his passenger sedan skidded out of control on the ice. The 1994 Buick Century slid sideways into oncoming traffic.

Rogerson’s car was struck on the passenger side by a semitruck driven by 42-year-old Royce Lynch of Clayton, Wash.

Rogerson’s passenger, Sherry M. Yarwood, was killed.

Yarwood’s age and hometown weren’t available.

Rogerson was taken to Boundary Community Hospital and later transferred to another facility. He was listed in stable condition.

Lynch was treated, then released.

Both accidents remain under investigation.