ITD worker killed in snow plow accident

BOISE (KIVI) — Investigators from both the Boise County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Transportation Department are looking into the cause of an accident that killed an Idaho Transportation Department worker about 9:30 Tuesday morning.

ITD spokesman Jake Melder says Byran Bidegain was killed while working with a rotary (snow) plow. “Bidegain is a road maintenance worker, who has worked at ITD for a little over five years. His job is to keep roadways clear and operate snow plows,” Melder stated.

It happened along Highway 21, near milepost 52, at the Mores Creek Summit.

In a prepared statement, ITD officials said, “Tragically, the Idaho Transportation Department lost a family member this morning. Byran Bidegain, a maintenance worker from the Idaho City area, died on the job near Idaho 21. Byran was a dedicated employee, friend and colleague. We send our deepest condolences and ask the public respect his family and colleagues as they cope with his loss.”

“The death is being ruled an accident,” said Boise County Deputy Coroner Mike Johnson. “Apparently, he was trying to unclog snow from the plow and was dragged into the rotor blades.”

Several snowmobilers in the area at the time heard the machine running, shut it off, then discovered Bidegain’s body. With no cell phone service in the area, the snowmobilers drove some twenty miles to the Boise County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho City.

Bidegain was 62, Johnson said.