Young ISP trooper, relative of Sen. Crapo, injured in Capitol Tree-related crash

As the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree made its way down Highway 55 on Sunday from McCall, Idaho, toward Boise, the state trooper leading the official motorcade was injured when a 2001 Dodge truck crossed the center line and collided with her patrol car, delaying the procession.

ISP Trooper Brandalyn Crapo – a relative of Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo – was flown to St. Alphonsus hospital in Boise, where she was treated for minor injuries; she’s since been released, and the crash is under investigation.

“I will tell you that fortunately, she came out much better than the vehicle did,” Sen. Crapo told the crowd at Monday’s Capitol ceremonies for the official tree, as it passed through on its way to Washington, D.C. “I spoke to her captain last night and to her this morning. She’s received some injuries but is already out of the hospital and getting ready to go back to work.”

The driver of the pickup, Michael Shields, 49, of Boise, was evaluated for injuries at the scene but wasn’t hospitalized. The crash happened at Milepost 77 on Highway 55 in Boise County; the Boise County Sheriff’s office is leading the investigation.

A photo released by the Idaho State Police showed serious damage to the patrol car.

The young state trooper is the granddaughter of the senator’s first cousin, making her his first cousin twice removed.

The tree that prompted the procession is this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, which was cut Nov. 2 from the ski slopes at Little Ski Hill just west of McCall, in the Payette National Forest.

The 80-foot Engelmann spruce is on a ceremonial journey from Idaho to the nation’s Capitol; it will include visits to more than 25 communities along the way, including Moscow on Nov. 10 and Coeur d’Alene Nov. 11. The tree will be officially lit on the west lawn of the Capitol on Dec. 6.