Annual ITD report shows increase in Bonner County crashes

Data shows rural roadways account for 66% of fatal wrecks statewide

By Zach Hagadone
Reader Staff

If Bonner County residents feel like the area has been experiencing more frequent and severe traffic crashes in recent years, that’s because it has. 

The recently released 2025 crash report from the Idaho Transportation Department showed a 62.5% increase in fatality crashes in Bonner County between 2024 and 2025, rising from five to eight, respectively. Overall crashes rose nearly 5% from 639 to 670 during the same period. 

ITD reported that while statewide crashes declined 0.1% in 2025, fatalities went up about 5% from 219 to 231 between 2024 and 2025.

“While 71% of all crashes occurred on urban roadways, 66% of fatal crashes happened on rural roads, continuing a long-standing trend in Idaho,” the department stated, citing aggressive driving as a contributing factor in 48% of all motor vehicle wrecks, with excessive speed being the most prevalent element in those crashes.

The 2025 numbers in the crash report showed that Kootenai County experienced 13 fatal crashes and Bonner County contributed eight.

While ITD hosts full data summaries from 2008 to 2025, it also includes preliminary figures for 2026, current through July. Based on those partial numbers, Bonner County has already exceeded its total number of fatal crashes in 2024 and is not far from meeting its 2025 year-end total.

According to latest figures, there have been six fatal crashes in Bonner County so far this year, compared to seven in Kootenai County — together accounting for 13 of the 17 latest figures, experienced in ITD District 1 as of press time.

Dist. 1 includes Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, with an estimated total population of almost 271,000 people. That means Bonner County — with about 54,400 people — comprises only about 20% of the district population but has contributed just more than 35% of all fatality crashes to date in 2026. 

Likewise, Bonner County accounted for 23% of all suspected serious crashes in Dist. 1 so far this year.

Based on population, Bonner County appears to be overrepresented with fatality and suspected serious crashes in 2026 — especially considering that neighboring Kootenai County (with an estimated 191,800 residents) totals nearly 71% of the district population but so far contributed 41% of recorded fatal crashes this year.

However, ITD spokesperson Britt Rosenthal told the Reader that population metrics don’t necessarily reflect how “dangerous” it is to drive on a region’s roadways.

“Crash risk is typically evaluated using vehicle miles traveled (VMT) rather than population,” she said. “Population alone doesn’t tell us how much people drive or the conditions they’re driving in. Two counties can have similar populations but very different roadway environments, which leads to different crash patterns.”

In the case of Bonner County, those rural road conditions are the biggest factor in why fatality and serious crash numbers are so much higher on a population basis relative to Kootenai County.

“Bonner County’s network is largely rural, with higher posted speeds, more run‑off‑the‑road crashes, less access control and longer emergency response times,” Rosenthal said. “Those conditions make severe crashes more likely. Statewide and national data consistently show higher fatality rates per mile traveled on rural roads. …

“Because of that, I wouldn’t characterize Bonner County as ‘more dangerous,’ but predominantly rural counties do carry a higher risk of severe outcomes when crashes occur,” she added. “Higher speeds, less forgiving roadway design and longer response times all contribute to that.”

By comparison, Kootenai County has more lower‑speed local roads and major routes that operate at lower speeds through populated areas. 

“In contrast, northern counties see higher‑speed travel and more through‑traffic, including commercial and tourist travel moving between Canada and points south, which increases exposure beyond what population alone would suggest,” Rosenthal said.

While agreeing with ITD’s explanation for rural-versus-urban road conditions and VMT as central factors in crash severity, Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler told the Reader that he had “not found a pattern to explain such high numbers.”

He said that most crashes occur on state highways, but in different parts of the county.

“Rural counties are more dangerous to drive in,” Wheeler added, also citing the area’s population growth.

In 2025, three of the eight fatality crashes in Bonner County occurred in Ponderay, with two in Spirit Lake and one each in Careywood, Oldtown and Sandpoint. As of the time of publication, two of the current total fatal crashes in Bonner County have taken place in Hope, with one each in Clark Fork, Oldtown, Ponderay and Sandpoint.

Idaho driver’s license-holders represented the vast majority of overall Bonner County crashes in 2025 and so far this year, while the single highest proportion of crashes by driver age was in the 20 and younger category. 

“Teen drivers, ages 15 to 19, also continue to be over-represented in crashes,” ITD stated. “In 2025, teen drivers were 2.1 times as likely as all other drivers to be involved in a fatal or injury crash. Thirty-two people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers [statewide].”

Wheeler also pointed to the understaffing of Idaho State Police troopers as a possible contributing factor in those rising crash numbers.

“As a result, we are seeing less ISP patrols in Bonner County. ISP resources seem to be diverted from Bonner County on to the higher-populated areas south of us,” he said. “I have personally requested an additional patrol position to be added in past budget years, and was going to again ask this year during our budget workshops. 

“Unfortunately, there were no budget workshops to discuss enhancements during this year’s budget discussions,” he added. “I was intending to submit the ITD crash report documenting the increase in serious and fatal accidents and request a traffic enforcement officer be added to our Patrol Division.”

According to the report, crashes in 2025 cost the state an estimated $6.1 billion, equivalent to almost $3,000 per person and underscoring the importance of investing in traffic safety improvements.

“I am pleased with the state action taken to address the Highway 95 and Lakeshore Drive intersection. This redesign will improve the safety of that intersection,” Wheeler said. “I would like to see the state address the intersection of Highway 41 and Spirit Lake Cutoff Road. That has historically been one of the most dangerous intersections in the county and should be redesigned.”

Read the full report at itd.idaho.gov/safety under Annual Crash Reports and Seatbelt Surveys.