Idaho Surgeon Dies After Collision With Elk on Utah Interstate
Dr. Mark Baker, 66, was killed when his BMW Z4 struck the animal on I-15 near the Utah-Idaho border.
An oral surgeon from Idaho died Thursday evening after his car collided with an elk on Interstate 15 near the Utah border. Dr. Mark Baker, 66, of Pocatello, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fatal incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. when Baker's 2022 BMW Z4 struck an elk that was obstructing the northbound lanes of the interstate near Portage, Utah, according to East Idaho News.
The crash led to the closure of both northbound lanes of I-15 for approximately one hour. The right lane was later reopened, while the left lane remained closed for an additional two and a half hours as emergency crews responded.
Authorities from the Idaho State Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
Dr. Baker was a well-known oral surgeon with Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho. Colleagues remembered him as a "trusted surgeon who brought compassion, kindness and dedication to every person he treated." A statement from his practice described him as "a respected colleague, mentor, and friend" to his team and "a physician who believed deeply in serving others" within the community. The practice added that Dr. Shawn A. Jepsen would assume care for Dr. Baker's patients.