Accident at C-44 & Hwy 140 Results In Fatality (Updated)

(Le Mars) — A Sheldon truck driver has died as a result of an accident that happened Wednesday in rural Plymouth County. The driver, 63-year old John Vanwyke Jr., was involved in a three-vehicle accident involving a pickup and two semi trucks and trailers. Authorities say the pickup ran a stop sign and was
struck by a northbound semi, and then Vanwyke’s semi, which was heading southbound, struck the utility trailer that was being pulled by the pickup. Vanwyke was airlifted to a Sioux City hospital where he died. That accident happened at the intersection of county road C-44 and Highway 140 about halfway
between Remsen and Kingsley.

 

(Remsen) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of the victims associated with the two semi trucks and pickup accident that happened Wednesday at the intersection of County road C-44 and Highway 140, nearly halfway between Remsen and Kingsley.  The accident resulted in a fatality to one of the semi truck drivers.  Through their investigation, it was
determined that 36 year old Aaron Moon of Westfield was driving a 2008 Dodge pickup truck and pulling an utility trailer, heading eastbound on county road C-44 when he failed to stop for a stop sign. Moon’s vehicle was struck by a northbound semi truck pulling a flatbed trailer, and driven by 61 year old Terry
Hainzinger of Fenton, Iowa. The 2007 Peterbuilt Semi tractor Hainzinger was driving is registered to M.S. and Sons Corporation from Humboldt, Iowa. The collision of the two vehicles caused the utility trailer that Moon’s vehicle was
pulling to become unattached from his pickup and travel into the southbound lane of travel on Highway 140. The utility trailer was then struck by another semi truck pulling a feed trailer that was heading southbound on Highway 140. The 2015 Freightliner semi was registered to Deluxe Feeds Incorporated of Sheldon, Iowa. Moon and Hainzinger were transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, where they were treated and released. The driver of the second semi truck was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City by Mercy Air Care where he later died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. The driver’s name
is not being released pending notification of family members.

 

(Remsen) — A pickup truck collided with two semi trucks and trailers at the intersection of Highway 140, and county road C-44, about half way between Remsen and Kingsley.  The accident happened Wednesday morning at approximately 11:46 a.m.

 

Each driver of all three involved vehicles suffered injuries with one of the semi truck drivers needing to be extracted from his vehicle and transported by Mercy Air Care helicopter to a Sioux City Hospital.  The other two drivers were transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, by both the Le Mars Ambulance and the Kingsley Ambulance.  Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Betsworth describes the accident scene.

One of the semi trucks was hauling ground corn for hog feed and overturned in the east ditch, causing the feed to spill on to the highway.  The second semi truck was pulling a flatbed trailer, but with few contents.  The trailer being pulled by the pickup truck was empty according to Betsworth.  The Remsen Fire and Rescue was called to the scene to assist with the extradition of one of the semi drivers.  No names have yet been released, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation.  Responding to the accident scene were the Remsen Fire and Rescue, Kingsley Ambulance, Le Mars Ambulance, Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.