Dr. Mark E. Baker dies in car accident with elk in Idaho

Dr. Mark E. Baker, a highly regarded 66-year-old oral surgeon, died following a vehicle collision with an elk on Interstate 15. The accident occurred near Pocatello, Idaho, around 9:30 p.m. on a Monday night.

Baker was driving a 2022 BMW Z4 when the animal entered the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The collision caused temporary lane closures on the northbound lanes of I-15 while emergency responders attended to the site.

Baker practiced with the Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho for decades. His colleagues and the clinic described him as a “trusted surgeon who brought compassion, kindness, and dedication to every person he treated” and a respected mentor to his team. Dr. Shawn A. Jepsen will take over the care of Baker’s patients.