Officials in Bear Lake County have identified a 72-year-old man who died following a two-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 89 on Thursday evening.
According to the Bear Lake County Coroner’s Office, the individual has been identified as Ricky Tueller of Montpelier. Authorities confirmed that he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Idaho State Police reported that the crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. near mile marker 21.5. Preliminary findings indicate that a northbound 2019 GMC Savana and a southbound 2022 GMC Yukon collided along the highway. The Yukon was driven by a juvenile from Ovid, whose identity has not been released.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and provided assistance at the scene. The juvenile driver was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for medical care. Authorities noted that both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
The collision led to a temporary closure of both directions of U.S. Highway 89 for approximately three hours while crews worked to manage the situation and clear the roadway. Traffic was later restored once it was safe to reopen the area.
Several local agencies assisted in the response, including the Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Bear Lake County Fire Department, Bear Lake Search and Rescue, and Bear Lake Ambulance services.
Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the crash, including factors that may have contributed to the incident. Officials have not yet released additional details as the investigation remains ongoing.
Authorities say further updates will be shared as more information becomes available following the completion of their review.
