POST FALLS -- A Post Falls High School senior was killed Tuesday afternoon when the bicycle he was riding collided with a Kootenai County Fire & Rescue water truck in Post Falls.
James Robert Anglin, 18, was transported from the scene at 16th Avenue and Cecil Road to Kootenai Medical Center. He was pronounced dead about 3 p.m.
"Our preliminary report shows he failed to stop for stop sign and pulled out in front of the fire tanker," said Kootenai County Sheriff's Capt. Ben Wolfinger.
Career firefighters Jim Oxenrider and Bryon Johnson were off duty and conducting private training in the vehicle at the time of the accident, said firefighter Ken Peterson. Investigators declined to say who was driving.
Wolfinger said witnesses in a pickup truck ahead of Anglin said the youth followed the truck into the intersection but did not stop for the sign on Cecil Road prior to making the turn onto 16th.
Deputies said the tanker truck, traveling westbound on 16th, was unable to stop and struck Anglin in the intersection about 2:30.
Post Falls High School students are released at 2:20 p.m.
Fire Chief Lynn Borders and Capt. Ben Theard arrived shortly after the accident. A number of Post Falls Police and sheriff's deputies also responded. Post Falls School District Superintendent Jerry Keane and assistant Superintendent Becky Ford arrived after Anglin was taken to the hospital.
Keane said the district will offer counselors today for students and staff to assist them in dealing with the death.
"We're just trying to respond as best we can," said Keane. "We have a crisis team we always activate in a case like this. It's a huge tragedy for the Post Falls community. I'm still pretty numb."
Wolfinger said skidmark testing for speed will be performed as part of the continuing investigation.
