Idaho teens injured in car crash involving dogs

Two teenagers were injured in a crash on the Nez Perce Reservation on Sunday morning after a dog jumped into the lap of the driver, the Idaho State Police said.

Brianna M. Nichols and Morganne N. Raines, both 18, were taken to Clearwater Valley Hospital after their 1994 Jeep Cherokee struck an embankment west of Orofino around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, according to a news release. The ISP said one of four dogs in the vehicle jumped into Nichols’ lap, causing her to steer into the embankment.

The ISP did not say if the dogs were injured. Eastbound lanes of the highway were closed for two hours Sunday morning.

Nichols was cited for inattentive driving. She was wearing a seat belt, according to the news release.

The Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Department of Fish and Game assisted in responding to the crash.