Man’s body recovered 3 miles downstream the Payette River following wreck
Responders with the Idaho State Police, Valley County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Unit recovered the body of a man from the North Fork of the Payette River, around the Banks area.
Investigators believe the body is of a 40-year-old man from Billings, Montana, who was involved in a crash on May 31 near State Highway 55 north of Cascade, Idaho State Police said in a Sunday news release. The body was recovered approximately three miles downstream from the wreck, police said.
Shortly before 3 p.m. on May 31 a Dodge Ram pickup truck was driving south on Idaho 55 when it crossed into the northbound lane, collided with another vehicle and crashed into the river’s North Fork near milepost 93.5, according to police.
Witnesses reported seeing at least one person swept away in the river following the wreck. Investigators said they believe the deceased individual is the same man from the crash.
Police said there was “heavy weekend traffic” on the highway at the time of the crash, and witnesses reported seeing “at least one occupant exit the pickup and be swept downstream by the swift current.”
Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, investigators believe only one person was in the truck that crashed into the river, and all other individuals in the wreck have been accounted for.
ISP continues to investigate the car crash. While the family of the man has been notified of the incident, the Valley County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the man and the cause of death at a later date.
This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 5:35 PM.
