A man and woman from Potlatch lost their lives late Friday after a side-by-side utility vehicle veered off a Benewah County road and plummeted into a river near St. Maries.
Idaho State Police reported the crash occurred at approximately 9:25 p.m. in the 9000 block of Railroad Grade Road. The two occupants — a 52-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman — were riding in a 2023 Can-Am Maverick Sport when the vehicle left the roadway, traveled down an embankment, and entered the water.
Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
For additional details on this fatal crash, see the full report on the Potlatch couple’s deaths near St. Maries.
What Comes Next
Idaho State Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash. Officials have not released the names of the deceased. Authorities routinely remind off-road vehicle operators that seat belt use is among the most critical safety measures available in the event of a rollover or embankment incident.