Collision on Highway 195 takes life of 2012 CHS grad

The car-truck collision Friday morning on Highway 195 six miles south of Colfax took the life of Samuel Thompson who was raised in Colfax. Thompson, 20, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Funeral services will be Saturday at First Baptist Church in Colfax at 10 a.m.

According to the Washington State Patrol report, Thompson was driving a 1998 Toyota Camry northbound at 10:24 a.m. when he crossed into the southbound lane near the Albion Road intersection and collided with a southbound tractor-trailer. The two vehicles collided head-on.

The driver of the truck and trailer, a 2012 Peterbilt, was not injured. He was identified as Floyd P. Low, 60, Cheney.

The accident remains under investigation. County Coroner Peter Martin said after a preliminary investigation, the cause of death was classified as accidental. He said his investigation suggests that Thompson could have been using a cell phone, possibly for texting, while driving northbound on the highway.

Thompson, son of Jim and Lisa Thompson of Colfax, was a member of the Colfax High School class of 2012 and competed on the Bulldog football and track teams. He attended all 13 years of school at Colfax.

He was a student at Lewis Clark State College in Lewiston.

Southbound traffic on Highway 195 was diverted to the Palouse Highway at Colfax during the extensive accident investigation. The highway was opened again at 6:51 p.m.