Mother and 2-Year-Old Daughter Perish After Car Flips into Canal
A tragic incident unfolded in Idaho over the weekend as a 35-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter lost their lives when their vehicle was struck by another car, causing it to overturn into a canal. The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office has identified the woman as Jaime Stebelton from Rexburg. The identity of the toddler has been withheld as she is a minor.
According to reports, the fatal collision occurred on October 5 in Shelley, Idaho. The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office received distress calls around 1:41 p.m. informing them about a two-vehicle crash that had led one car to flip into a canal, submerging it underwater. The overturned vehicle was identified as a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, while the second vehicle involved was a 2022 Hyundai Palisade.
Upon arrival at the scene, emergency responders found several individuals attempting to reach the occupants trapped in the submerged Sonata. The concerted efforts of citizens and first responders led to the successful extraction of four individuals from the Sonata. Among them were the unconscious 35-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter, who were immediately administered CPR before being rushed to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
In the Sonata, alongside the mother and child, were a 43-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy, both of whom sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The Palisade, driven by a 27-year-old male, also carried two children – a 6-year-old boy and a 4-year-old boy – who thankfully emerged uninjured from the collision. The driver of the Palisade suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.
Preliminary investigations by the sheriff’s office revealed that the Sonata was travelling south towards a two-way stop sign, while the Palisade was moving east. The Sonata failed to yield at the intersection, resulting in a collision with the Palisade. The impact caused the Sonata to overturn into the canal, leading to the tragic deaths of the mother and daughter.
Authorities noted that the 2-year-old in the Sonata was secured in a car seat, but the other occupants were not wearing seat belts. Conversely, the children in the Palisade were properly restrained, but the adult driver was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.
The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the incident is currently under investigation to determine further details surrounding the collision. This harrowing event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety precautions and adherence to traffic regulations to prevent such devastating losses.
As the community mourns the heartbreaking loss of Jaime Stebelton and her young daughter, their memory will live on, and their untimely passing highlights the fragile nature of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy.
