Student and man identified after fatal accident near Iona

IONA – A teenager and a man who died in a two-vehicle crash in Bonneville County have been identified.

County Coroner Rick Taylor said the teen was 17 and from Bonneville County. He had to be extricated from his vehicle and died from multiple traumatic injuries, Taylor said. Taylor did not release his name because the boy was a minor.

RELATED | Teenager, man killed in accident near Iona

However, Bonneville High School Principal Justin Jolley and Bonneville Joint School District 93 Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme sent a letter to Bonneville High School students Wednesday morning identifying the teenager as Jackson Murdock, who was in the was senior year of school.

To support students and staff through the grieving process, they have asked additional school counselors and social workers to be available at Bonneville High School, the letter said.

“We ask every family to keep Jackson’s friends and family in their thoughts during this extraordinarily difficult time,” the letter said.

Taylor told EastIdahoNews.com that the man involved in the accident was Austin Blakely, 28, of Ririe. He said Blakely was ejected from his vehicle and died from multiple traumatic injuries.

background

The crash occurred Tuesday evening near Iona.

Murdock and Blakely were both killed in the accident, which occurred just before midnight on U.S. Highway 26 at milepost 340 north of Iona.

Idaho State Police said a white Hyundai Sonata, driven by Murdock, was traveling east on U.S. 26 when it crossed the center line and collided with a blue Dodge pickup driven by Blakely, which was traveling west direction was on the way.

Both drivers died at the scene and neither was wearing a seatbelt, ISP said.

The crash is under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information that could assist the investigation is asked to call ISP at (208) 528-3408.