Emmett family injured in Christmas Eve crash back home; friends rally community support

Micky Birmingham has casts on both of his arms but he’s back home after a crash on Interstate 84 while driving his family to a holiday dinner Thursday, a close family friend told the Statesman Tuesday.

Birmingham’s wife, Krystal, suffered a shattered left cheek, a deep cut on the palm of her hand and a bruised, scraped-up knee.

Their two daughters and a kitten — all riding in the back seat — suffered only minor injuries when the Dodge Dart carrying the family slammed into the back of a semi-truck trailer. Truck driver James Archer, a 75-year-old Caldwell man, was not injured in the collision.

Family and friends of the Birminghams have set up a GoFundMe account called “Help the Birminghams” to help with bills until the couple can get back to work. Family friend Wendy Boyer said donations of prepared meals are also needed, and there are volunteers who will come pick the food up (hot pot meals, casseroles, soup, mashed potatoes). Contact Boyer at 941-3801.

Idaho State Police said the Dec. 24 collision occurred at about 12:40 p.m. on the westbound side of Interstate 84 near milepost 91, west of Mountain Home. The road had heavy ice and blowing snow. The right lane of westbound I-84 was blocked for two hours.

In its press release on the crash, ISP said it was unclear if driver Micky Birmingham was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. But Boyer said everyone in the vehicle was belted in, and the front airbags deployed.

“They had to cut Micky’s seatbelt off of him,” Boyer said.

Birmingham was cited for inattentive driving, ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker said Tuesday.

This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Emmett family injured in Christmas Eve crash back home; friends rally community support."