MERIDIAN, Idaho — Six hours. That's how long it took police and first responders to clear the massive dump truck accident on westbound I-84 on Friday, but it wasn't the only one that happened on the interstate to start the weekend commute.
Idaho State Police said between noon and 1 p.m., troopers responded to seven different accidents and incidents along a four-mile stretch of the interstate, between approximately mileposts 42 to 46.
Tim Marsano, spokesman for ISP, said they still don't know if the crashes were related to the dump truck accident, but troopers are looking into it.
The dump truck crash caused the biggest headaches for Treasure Valley commuters by blocking three lanes of traffic after it tipped over, spilling sand and fuel across the interstate. Following the crash, traffic was backed up for miles on the interstate and the surrounding interchanges.
Delays grew as hazmat teams were sent in to clean up the leaked fuel and sweep the sand off of the roadway.
ISP issued an update Saturday morning on the investigation into the truck crash:
Brian C. Smith, 35, of Boise, was on the left shoulder of eastbound I-84 in a 2019 Ford van with a flat tire. He tried to exit the interstate, crossing several lanes of travel.
The van was struck by a 2008 Kenworth semi-truck and trailer traveling eastbound on I-84. The truck, driven by Lonnie R. Caldwell, 59, of Boise, hit the median jersey barrier and overturned, spilling a load of sand.
Caldwell was transported by ground ambulance to St. Luke's in Meridian.
Smith and Caldwell were wearing seat belts.
Commuters weren't keen on the delays during rush hour, with drivers unsurprisingly saying it wasn't fun, describing it as 'horrible' and wondering what was causing the delays in the first place.
"Looks like California around here. I'm from Virginia originally so it reminds me of home a little bit," one driver told KTVB.
Drivers said they were stuck in traffic anywhere from five minutes to more than an hour.