On the most deadly road in Idaho, a group of whitewater kayakers were in the right place at the right time on Sunday, August 3, 2025 when a couple crashed, their car overturning and landing upside down in the Payette River.
Sonya Valenzuela and her partner Will had been travelling the scenic Highway 55 between McCall and Treasure Valley, returning home from spreading Sonya’s mother’s ashes with Sonya’s six daughters when the car crashed, careening off the road and into the river.
River rescue on Idaho’s most deadly road
Sarah Valenzuela, one of Sonya’s daughters, shared that her mother had experienced a stroke a year and a half ago that had left her paralyzed on the left side of her body. As a result, Sonya now uses a wheelchair.
Idaho Highway 55 sees an average 8.2 yearly fatalities according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), making it the most deadly road in Idaho. The road features tight turns along the river and occasionally has no shoulder. The family had already been concerned for their mother on the long drive and had even outlined rest stops along the way.
Sarah shared with KTVB News that Sonya had become irritated with her seatbelt while driving and took it off; Will, her partner and the driver, attempted to help her with the seatbelt and the car went off the road, crashing into the Payette River and landing upside down.
Sonya broke her femur, tibia and nose and fractured her upper spine, and her partner Will suffered only minor injuries–injuries that could have been more severe if not for the quick action of nearby kayakers.
Kayakers save couple from smoking overturned car partially submerged in Payette River
Meanwhile on the Payette River, kayaker Jeff Landers, his wife Sara and their friend Micah Barker had been kayaking all day when Jeff and Micah decided to go out for one last run. Jeff told KTVB News that he had paddled that section of river as many as 600 times.
“Their car came careening off the road, slammed into the rock and flipped upside down, landing upside down in the North Fork, up to about the wheels,” Jeff told KTVB News. “I was directly across from them in the eddy, probably like 20 feet away, maybe 25 feet, so I just ferried across the river as fast as I could.”
With smoke pouring out of the vehicle, Jeff caught hold of Will’s hand and pulled him out of the car at which point Will shared that Sonya was still trapped on the other side of the car. They found Sonya pinned between the seat backs with her head just above the water. Together, Jeff and Micah worked to free her.
Before long, more kayakers joined the scene and used a backboard to help carry Sonya up the rocky river bank. A doctor in the group checked Sonya and Will’s vitals and an ambulance arrived to take Sonya to the hospital.
Angels come with kayaks
After the accident, Sara Valenzuela received a message sharing Jeff’s name and number and they connected. Jeff told Sarah that the event was very traumatic for him.
“He realized who I was; you could hear him crying on the other side of the phone,” Sarah told KTVB News.
“I’m glad I was placed in the right spot at the exact moment,” shared Jeff.
From the hospital, Sonya later sent a video message to Jeff thanking him for saving her life.
“Angels come with kayaks or angels come with paddles,” said Sarah Valenzuela.
