Sandpoint High School Senior McCoy Jensen and Stepfather Josh Pilch Killed in Memorial Day Head-On Crash Days Before Graduation

A northern Idaho community is grieving after a Memorial Day crash on U.S. Highway 95 near Sagle claimed the lives of 48-year-old Josh Pilch and his 18-year-old stepson, McCoy “Coy” Jensen.

The two were traveling together when the vehicle Coy was driving crossed the center line and collided head-on with a northbound pickup truck. Both died at the scene.

The two occupants of the other vehicle, Kurt and Franny Hoopes, were transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

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For the Sandpoint community, the loss is staggering. Coy had been days away from graduating from Sandpoint High School with high honors, and his family had been preparing for his departure on a two-year mission to Santiago, Chile, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Josh had done his own mission in that same city roughly three decades earlier. That connection between stepfather and son had made the upcoming journey especially meaningful to the family.

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A Young Man Who Lit Up Every Room

Those who knew Coy describe a teenager who made everyone around him feel seen and valued. Friends remembered him as the kind of person who gave hugs freely, laughed easily, and went out of his way to lift others during hard moments.

On the swim team at Sandpoint High, he helped teammates push through grueling practices while somehow still finding time to smile and encourage those struggling beside him.

He had been named Student of the Month at the school earlier this year and was set to walk at graduation just one week after the crash.

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Family friend Blake Ambridge called Coy a bright light, someone who was always genuinely happy to see people.

Nick Watson, who spent time with Coy the morning of the accident, said the group had woken early to watch the sunrise at the beach and play volleyball together. By afternoon, Coy was gone.

That evening, roughly 800 people gathered at Sandpoint’s City Beach for a candlelight vigil in his memory.

A Father Remembered for His Heart and His Grit

Josh Pilch was a man defined by his loyalty and his work ethic. He owned and operated Pilch Construction and Excavation and had recently taken on a new job that required him to fly out of town. Coy had been driving him to the airport when the crash occurred.

Friends described Josh as rough around the edges but deeply devoted to the people he cared about. He was a father of eight who, according to those close to him, would drop everything to help a friend without ever asking for anything in return.

Chelsea Wilson, a close friend of the family, affectionately called him Captain Pilch and said that when he spoke, he meant every word.

He leaves behind his wife, Kim, who homeschools the younger children, along with eight kids who adored him.

In the days following the crash, the Sandpoint community has responded with an outpouring of support.

A GoFundMe campaign organized by Zach James, a leader in the family’s local congregation, had raised over $63,000 toward a $100,000 goal as of Tuesday evening, with donations still coming in steadily.

As Melenie Kidd wrote simply in a Facebook post shared alongside the fundraiser link: life is fragile, and the people we love deserve to hear it while we still can.