Woman who died in Hayden Accident from Bonners Ferry
March 29, 2011
Jennifer Gonzalez, from Facebook.
A 34-year old woman killed after accidentally driving into Hayden Lake March 17 was a 1995 graduate of Bonners Ferry High School and a former employee at the Kootenai River Inn before moving to Hayden.

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Gonzalez drove her SUV past several barrier signs at the Honeysuckle Boat Launch and into the waters of Hayden Lake at about 9:55 p.m. March 17. A nearby resident heard the crash and called 911, and deputies responding to the scene found her vehicle about 100 feet from shore in 10- to 15-feet of water. Personnel from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Rescue Team were able to free her from the vehicle, but attempts to resuscitate her failed and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to reports, Gonzalez, who had been drinking, was driving too fast down the serpentine, half mile drive leading to the ramp, and people said her headlights were shining toward shore when the vehicle came to rest.

Hers is the ninth fatal crash at Honeysuckle Boat Launch since 1997.

Services for Gonzalez were held at Mountain Springs Church, Bonners Ferry, March 25.