Three-vehicle crash kills Meridian athlete

A Centennial High School athlete was killed and the school's assistant cross-country coach critically injured in a three-vehicle crash on Idaho 55 that happened at the same time a summer thunderstorm hit much of the Treasure Valley on Tuesday.

Four other people were hurt in the crash, including two other Centennial students.

Steven W. Thompson, 17, of Meridian, died of massive head injuries at the scene, said Mike Johnson, chief deputy Boise County coroner.

The assistant coach, Glenn Mabey, 42, of Meridian, was in critical condition late Tuesday at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.

Tracy Harris, Mountain View High School track and cross-country coach, said Tuesday that although he was not Thompson's coach, he remembers the young man's determination during competition.

"He was one of those kids who wasn't a top runner but was determined to be at the top," Harris said. "In every race I saw him run, he was striving to stay with the leaders.

"He was a smaller guy, but he was gutsy, and I think he would have gotten there this year. That' s the kind of competitor he was. This is just tragic."

Also injured in the crash from Centennial was Austin P. Stalling, 19, of Boise, who was in stable condition at Saint Al's, and Michael E. Dobkins, 17, of Boise, whose condition was not released.

One of the drivers, Ryan K. Howard, 38, of Waco, Texas, was treated and released from Saint Al's. Another driver, Tiffany Ghighina, 39, of Nampa, was treated at the scene.

A large crowd of Centennial students and parents went to the hospital as word spread of the crash. Meridian School District provided grief counselors at Centennial for anyone who needed them.

Idaho State Police is still investigating the cause of the crash, but investigators did say heavy rain and water on the road were factors in the crash.

However, they said they are investigating whether inattention or speed played a factor.

ISP said Howard was driving a Dodge Durango pickup and pulling a trailer south on Idaho 55 about 11:50 a.m.

As he rounded a curve, he lost control, the trailer jackknifed and the vehicle went into the northbound lane, hitting a Subaru SUV driven by Mabey. Mabey and the teens were headed to an annual camp at Stanley Basin for cross-country athletes.

The pickup then bounced off the guardrail on the north side of the road and hit a Saturn minivan driven by Ghighina, who also was heading north.

Traffic in both directions on Idaho 55 was delayed for hours Tuesday as emergency crews worked to help the victims out of the wreckage and to clean up debris.

Emergency crews had to cut apart the twisted wreckage of the Subaru to get the victims out.

News of the crash reverberated across the Centennial High School community and beyond.

Harris, the Mountain View coach, said the loneliness of the long-distance runner is more than made up for by the camaraderie built among the athletes in the program, especially in the Treasure Valley.

"It's a very close-knit community," Harris said. "We all know each other. I know some coaches better than others. The season is in the fall, but we run all year."

He said it is not unusual for coaches to take team members to camps throughout the summer.

Last week, Harris said he took his athletes to Sun Valley. Coaches from around the state will be in Boise soon for a camp at Bishop Kelly High School.

Harris said the crash will hit the running community hard.

"The cross-country community will rally around Centennial, and something good will come of this," he said. "This is a terrible tragedy, but something good will come of this.

"The cross country community is that close and that strong."

Reporters Brian Murphy, Katy Moeller, Patrick Orr, Bill Roberts and Brad Talbutt contributed to this report.

Patrick Orr: 377-6619