UPDATE: Body Recovered Following Truck Crash Into Idaho River

UPDATE JUNE 7, 2026: The Idaho State Police have released an update to an accident that happened over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. A body has been recovered, and it is believed to be the body of the male driver of the truck that crashed into the Payette River.

Investigators are working to verify the identity, and the next of kin family has been notified. A passerby in the area came across the body about three miles downstream from where the accident happened. Responders recovered the body on Sunday afternoon.

UPDATE: Missing Driver Located Following Crash Into Idaho River

Authorities still believe the male driver was the only occupant of the vehicle and the Valley County Coroner’s Office will release identity and cause of death at a later time. Details from the original crash report are listed below.

ORIGINAL STORY JUNE 1, 2026: A dangerous curve in a Western Idaho highway has become the scene of a search and rescue effort after a truck left the highway and crashed into the Payette River.

The initial report from the Idaho State Police related the details of the crash and the difficulty crews were having in retrieving the truck or the driver due to high water levels and swift water current. Today, they reported that the water level had been lowered, and crews were able to reach the truck in the river.

ISP UPDATE: Crews Still Searching For Driver Following Crash Into Idaho River

On Sunday, May 31st, around 3 PM, two vehicles were involved in an accident on State Highway 55 between mile markers 93 and 94 south of Cascade. That section of highway runs along the Payette River and is near constant curves. The Idaho State Police report states that a green Dodge Ram was traveling south on the highway and crossed into the northbound lane, where it collided with another vehicle.

After the impact, the Ram left the road and crashed into the river. Initial reports indicated that one occupant exited the truck but was swept away by the current. Some witnesses believed there may have been other occupants in the vehicle. ISP verified the identity of the driver, a 40-year-old male from Billings, Montana, but have not located him yet.

Crews were unable to reach the vehicle on Sunday due to the dangerous water current, but the water level was lowered, and crews were able to reach, access, and remove the truck late Monday morning. The vehicle was unoccupied when the recovery happened, and crews are still searching for the driver.

The crash is being investigated, and the search is ongoing to find the driver.

The accident happened about 7 miles south of the Rainbow Bridge, which will be replaced with a new, modern bridge beginning in 2028.