Jaydon Putnam, 18, of Rigby was behind the wheel of a 2018 Ford F-350 early Saturday morning when it left Twin Butte Road near Menan. The truck hit an embankment and flipped upside down into the Snake River. His passenger, Nicholas Jayce Olsen, 15, of Idaho Falls, was with him. Both died at the scene around 7:20 a.m.
The road runs just north of Menan, close to the Menan Bridge. Idaho State Police say the truck was headed south when it left the pavement. No other vehicles were involved. Responders from Jefferson County, Madison County, Bonneville County dive team, Rigby Police and Central Fire all showed up to help.

Jaydon had just turned 18. Nicholas was still 15. They were two local kids out on a regular Saturday. One moment they were driving along the familiar stretch by the river. The next, everything stopped.
Families in Rigby and Idaho Falls woke up to the worst news. Friends who knew them from school or around town are left with empty seats and quiet phones. The coroner confirmed their names a couple days later so everyone could know who was lost.
The truck ended up fully inverted in the water. It took the dive team and others to handle the recovery. Police are still looking into what made the vehicle leave the road. They have not said if speed, weather or something else played a part.
Life around here moves fast with work, school and weekends by the river. This crash cut two of those lives short without warning. People who drove that same road the day before now slow down and think about it.
Jaydon and Nicholas will not get the years that should have come next. Their names stay with the folks who cared about them in Rigby and Idaho Falls. The investigation continues while the families try to get through each day.









