70-year-old female motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after being struck by pickup's tire on I-86 near Pocatello airport

POCATELLO — A 70-year-old female motorcyclist was airlifted to Portneuf Medical Center after she was struck by a tire on Interstate 86 that had come off a passing pickup truck.

The 3:40 p.m. Wednesday incident east of Pocatello Regional Airport temporarily shut down Interstate 86 when an emergency helicopter landed on the freeway to transport the seriously injured motorcyclist to PMC.

Idaho State Police said the motorcyclist, from Ashland, Oregon, was heading eastbound on Interstate 86 on a 2023 Harley-Davidson Trike when one of the rear tires came off a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup heading westbound on the freeway. The tire traveled through the median and slammed into the motorcyclist, knocking her off her bike.

The pickup truck, driven by a 23-year-old American Falls man, was able to safely come to a stop on the freeway despite the loss of one of its tires.

The motorcyclist's name and an update on her condition haven't yet been released. She was wearing a helmet, authorities said.

The incident remains under investigation by state police.