Wrong way driver charged in triple fatality

ATHOL, Idaho — Idaho State Police have charged a wrong way driver that killed a Spokane family with three counts of felony vehicular manslaughter.

ISP said Ryan Turner, 27, was taken into custody Friday. Earlier this week, they said they believe Turner was drinking before the crash that killed Mathew-Michael Baroni, 33, and his daughters, 8-year-old Madilyn and 6-year-old Molly.

Turner was driving north in the southbound lane of Highway 95 near Athol around 3:50 a.m. September 12. ISP said Turner hit Baroni head on. Baroni and his daughters died at the scene. They were not wearing seatbelts.

ISP said the two girls were likely sleeping on a mattress in the back of the family. Baroni delivers newspapers and brought his daughters along for the ride. ISP said a seatbelt wouldn’t have helped save Baroni, but could have saved the girls.