Athol, ID - At around 5:15 p.m, The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office received a call of an ATV accident in the area of Pope Road and Kita Rd. It was reported that a family was riding dirt bikes on a non-used trail and came across the ATV accident. Northern Lakes Fire and Sheriff Deputies arrived on scene and located the ATV off the roadway out of sight. The male rider, Howard Coates, was pinned against a tree and the ATV. It is believed he has been in this position since late Thursday night. Howard was airlifted by Life Flight to Kootenai Health to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
Howard Coates, a 66 year old male, left his residence on N. Ponderosa Street in the area of Pope Road and Corbin Hill Road at around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday on his 2004 Camo Bombarier Outlander ATV and had not returned. Howard was wearing pajama bottoms and no shirt when he was last seen on the ATV. Howard has some medical problems and takes medication which was not with him.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the members of the Kootenai County Sheriff Volunteer Search and Rescue unit, the Civil Air Patrol, Spokane County Air Unit and all the members of the public that assisted in the search for Howard and provided tips.
Sheriff Ben Wolfinger
By: Lt. Ryan Higgins
19-30520