JEROME, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — A crash on the highway last week resulted in the death of a local woman. KMVT reached out to the victim’s family and Idaho State Police for an update.

“He was on the phone with dispatch when the accident happened,” says Kassie Knapp.

Last Tuesday, Kassie Knapp woke up to a phone call informing her that her sister, Samantha Smith, had died in a crash on I-84 in Jerome County. According to Knapp, Samantha was driving to the Chalet when her car broke down and was then hit by a truck.

“I remember falling to the ground like I didn’t believe this could be real,” Knapp says.

The crash that claimed Samantha’s life is still under investigation, according to Idaho State Police. But court documents state that ISP obtained dashcam footage from the semi-truck’s company, and the footage allegedly showed Samantha with the hazard lights on her car.

The footage also revealed that the truck driver did not break or swerve to escape from the vehicle. ISP now attaches importance to driver safety, especially in construction areas.

“If we’re talking to semi-truck drivers, they know they’re a lot bigger and it takes them longer to stop, so it’s really important for them to look ahead,” says Sergeant Benjamin Foster. “Not just a few hundred yards, they have to watch half a mile down the road to see what’s going on.”

The day of the crash, KMVT spoke with Officer Scott Pop regarding driver safety. “They need to slow down, pay attention and be aware of their surroundings,” Pope said. “We don’t have a lot of space here, it’s very tight, we have guys doing construction on the side of the road here, so everyone needs to be careful when going into construction zones.”

Knapp told KMVT his sister leaves behind two children, a son and a daughter. He said the family is currently working on funeral arrangements.

“We were always there for each other, so it’s too bad he’s not there anymore,” Knapp says.

If you would like to donate to the family’s GoFundMe account for Samantha’s funeral, Click here.

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