According to police, on June 5, 2012 at approximately 7:32 p.m. the Idaho State Police investigated a fatal motorcycle crash.  The driver of the motorcycle was traveling westbound on Hoot Owl Road just north of Inkom, when he lost control of his black 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle.  The driver ran off the road, collided with a fence and died instantly. 
The passenger, Shannon Cozzens, 24, of Wyoming was transported to Portneuf Medical Center with severe injuries.  Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors.  Neither the driver nor passenger were wearing helmets.  The operator of the motorcyle was Christopher G. Matthews, 29, of Chubbuck. Next of kin has been notified.
Idaho State Police was assisted at the scene by Bannock County Sheriff, Bannock County Search and Rescue and Pocatello EMS.  The crash is still under investigation.

Reader says serving America in Iraq is justification for drinking and driving
To the Editor:
Okay, I am one of the first to say people should not drink and drive. It is also a place I make my stand.
My question to you is do you ever take into consideration that the person may not have been drinking.
The accident that Christopher Mathews was in was absolutely horrible. I arrived just as the police did. I cannot tell you if Chris was drinking. I can tell you the gentleman that was with him seemed as sober as could be to me. At this time there is something that you are missing in your story… Something that should be published and recognized.
If you truly believe that there is a problem and you are truly concerned… Which I think may be a portion of what I see. You need to go to the root of the problem. In this case it is getting help for the thousands of vets that return from war and have PTSD or find it hard to get a job or fit in. They left hree as wonderful people. They come back changed.. But the biggest thing… We do not honor them we reject them. Please focus your efforts on some of these things and getting help. To attack after the fact is not going to help the problem. The person you wrote about is gone… He gave his whole life during the years he was in Iraq….fighting for you,me and our country. His family is grieving and you write your column … Proud chested and smiling proud of what you have done. Did you really accomplish what your goal was. Shame on you.
I think it may be of interest to readers that Chris had honored our country by serving 3 tours of Iraq. He also had earned a purple heart. He had suffered many wounds, perhaps some physical some not. This man risked his life for us. I never had the opportunity to meet him. I did however talk to someone who did know him. He was a very honorable man. For you to post only half a story and for you to assume he had been drinking and publish it without proof is insane. The toxicology report if there was one would not have been back when you published your column. You should have acknowledged what he had served our country and had earned a purple heart and how he served to protect our rights. This man gave it all for our country. 29 years old… Served 3 tours in Iraq, He left as an innocent child and came back a man that had experienced and seen far too much for his age. Please take a moment to look around you and see all the things that vets and soldiers have given you.. Freedom. Even the freedom to write this column.
Shame on you.
lngtm15@hughes.net
(Editor’s Note: the above report very clearly states that the police report that alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in this fatal wreck.  Our condolences to the family of the deceased are tempered by the fact that every day the message goes out to those who drive after drinking that they should think about their loved ones and simply call for a ride home instead of taking to the roadway.  Every day sober riders who are America’s veterans make it home safe by not driving after drinking. They live to support their families and to live long lives. No one has a right to drive drunk because they served America and to protect our freedoms, to allege that they do is asinine.)