By KIFI Channel 8

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho - A champion snowmobiler from Teton, ID, was killed Tuesday when he hit a minivan driving across Moody Highway in Madison County.

According to a press release from the Madison County Sheriff's Office Rick Ward, 47, of Teton was driving west on the Moody Hwy. when the driver of a minivan was crossing the road.  The sheriff's office says the male juvenile stopped at the intersection of South Teton and the Moody Hwy. before he continued across the street. That's when Ward crashed into the van.

The van's driver was taken to Madison Memorial Hospital. Ward was flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The sheriff's office is investigating the crash.

Ward was an 18 time world champion of hillclimb snowmobile racing. He was also a member of the Rocky Mountain Snowmobile Hillclimb Association.