Freak accident kills BSU van driver

A westbound bus containing the BSU debate team was struck by an unoccupied eastbound pickup on Saturday evening, instantly killing the bus driver, Steven, J. McNutt, 49 of Boise.

The incident began at about 10:20 p.m. when a 2000 Dodge one-ton pickup driven by Tommy R. Cook, 38, of Hockley, Texas, was driving eastbound on I-84 approximately 10 miles east of Mountain Home. He was towing a 1996 Dodge pickup loaded with a cab-over camper. The hitch broke and the towed pickup came loose, crossed the median and collided with the westbound bus driven by McNutt in the westbound lanes.

Cook was not injured and the pickup he was driving, was not involved in the actual collision. McNutt was seat-belted into the bus and was unable to avoid the collision.

Passengers on the bus included the director, three coaches and approximately 21 members of the Boise State University Debate team.

Several air ambulances were immediately dispatched to the scene and are believed to have transported a total of three passengers from the bus to Boise area hospitals. The extent of their injuries has not been released but none were believed to be in critical.

Additional passengers from the bus were transported by ground ambulance and bus to Boise and Mountain Home hospitals for treatment.

Westbound traffic on I-84 was diverted onto US Highway 30 for approximately four hours while the crash was investigated and the scene cleared. Investigation of the crash is continuing, but no charges have been filed.