Two Killed, Three Hurt In Wreck On Highway 12 Man Reaching To Help Baby Caused Collision, Police Say

Three people injured in an accident that killed two others remained hospitalized Wednesday in Lewiston, one in critical condition.

An infant and a teenage girl died in Tuesday’s head-on accident on U.S. Highway 12 just east of Lenore, Idaho. They were identified by the Idaho State Police as Christa K. Vincent, 16 months, of Jerome, Idaho, and Amanda R. Vandenberg, 18, of Clarkston, Wash.

Joseph S. Olive, 19, of Peck, Idaho, underwent surgery Wednesday morning, ISP Cpl. John Ferriss said. Olive was listed in critical condition at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said.

The accident happened about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The ISP said Vincent’s 25-year-old father, William, was driving a car that crossed the center line and slammed headon into a car driven by Lisa D. Schoening, 20, of Lewiston.

“It appears (Vincent) was distracted by a passenger,” Ferriss said.

William Vincent and Schoening both were listed in fair condition Wednesday at St. Joseph’s, a nursing supervisor said.

Vandenberg was a passenger in Schoening’s car. Olive was riding with Vincent.

Ferriss said Vincent reached back to give his daughter a pacifier when his 1987 Ford Taurus strayed. The car crossed almost completely into the highway’s oncoming lane before colliding with Schoening’s 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass, the officer said.

Schoening, who was westbound, tried unsuccessfully to swerve into the eastbound lane to avoid Vincent. A guardrail on the north side of the road prevented Schoening from moving onto the shoulder.

The collision spun both cars around and catapulted Vincent’s car onto the guardrail. Schoening’s car rolled backward to a stop into a ditch on the side of the highway.

Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the accident.

, DataTimes