Dr Mark Baker, a 66-year-old prominent oral surgeon from Pocatello, Idaho, was killed when his BMW Z4 collided with a large elk blocking Interstate 15 near Portage, Utah, on Thursday evening around 9:30pm. The fatal crash occurred near the Idaho–Utah border, with Baker dying at the scene.

The collision closed both northbound lanes of I-15 for approximately one hour whilst emergency crews responded. The right lane subsequently reopened, though the left lane remained closed for a further two and a half hours. Baker was a well-respected surgeon at Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho, where colleagues remembered him as a compassionate, dedicated physician who mentored his team and served the community with deep commitment. Dr Shawn A Jepsen will assume responsibility for Baker's patients moving forward.