Trucker dies in rollover near Kendrick

A Lewiston man was killed Thursday morning after crashing a loaded log truck on Southwick Road east of Kendrick.

Vernon Benjamin, 69, was pronounced dead at the scene after police and medics responded to the accident around 7:45 a.m.

According to an Idaho State Police news release, Benjamin was driving a 1975 Freightliner tractor-trailer with a full load of logs westbound on the road. He apparently lost control of the vehicle as he attempted to negotiate a right-hand curve near milepost 8, approximately half a mile from Southwick.

The truck crossed the center line and exited the road on the left-hand shoulder, according to the state police. It then rolled onto its top, killing Benjamin and dumping his load of logs into the ditch on the side of the road. Evidence suggests Benjamin was not wearing a seat belt, according to the state police.

Following the accident, crews worked for hours to gather the logs from the ditch and a nearby field. The tractor-trailer flipped over completely in the accident, but the state police did not specify whether Benjamin was ejected from the vehicle. Calls to the state police were not returned Thursday night.

The tractor-trailer was removed from the scene by Forest Wrecking of Lewiston. Nez Perce County Sheriff's Office deputies assisted with traffic control following the accident.

Benjamin's next of kin have been notified, according to the state police, and the accident is still under investigation.

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Gaboury may be contacted at kgaboury@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2275. Follow him on Twitter @KevinGaboury.