Driver hospitalized after crashing into Boise hotel, damaging sculpture

A 24-year-old Meridian woman was in serious condition Monday at a Boise hospital, and a recently restored piece of public art is in need of major repair after a late-night car crash over the weekend.

The crash was reported at about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Police say the driver, identified in police and hotel reports as Blanca Rodriguez, was traveling west on Front Street toward Capitol Boulevard when she failed to stop for a red light and her 2005 Dodge Neon struck a taxi that was northbound on Capitol. After hitting the taxi, the Neon slammed into the base of the River Sculpture at the Grove Hotel.

The taxi driver was not seriously injured, but Rodriguez was transported by paramedics to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for treatment, according to reports.

Police said Monday that Rodriguez was cited for failing to obey a traffic signal.

Karen Bubb, public arts manager for Boise Department of Arts & History, estimated the damage to the new restored River Sculpture at more than $5,000 — money that the city will seek from the driver’s insurance company. Bubb said the granite pieces will need to be re-cut, and the electrical system will need to be checked out.

River Sculpture was created by artist Allison Sky.

A restoration of the 16-year-old sculpture, announced in November, cost $270,000, with $200,000 coming from city discretionary funds and $70,000 from the Grove Hotel and the Capital City Development Corporation. The River Scultpure is a Boise icons.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 6:38 PM with the headline "Driver hospitalized after crashing into Boise hotel, damaging sculpture."