(Le Mars) — Rescue workers were called to the bridge on the north end of Merrill on Highway 75 at about 12:20 p.m. Wednesday afternoon as a vehicle heading southbound, left the roadway, and entered the Floyd River. The 1999 Pontiac Grand Am had just missed striking the bridge. No other vehicles were
involved with the accident. Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo says the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office had received a phone call, prior to the accident occurring, talking about an erratic driver heading south on Highway 75. As it turned out, the vehicle in question was the car that drove into the river. The driver was identified as 48 year old Sally Menke of Sioux
City, and it appears the driver may have suffered from some sort of medical condition that lead to the accident. Menke was alive and was assisted from her car, but was placed on a back board and the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department used their aerial truck to lift her from the river bank. Menke was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars by the Le Mars Ambulance Service. While performing the rescue, traffic was kept open on
Highway 75, although it was reduced to two-lanes. Following the extraction of Menke, rescue crews assisted with the extraction of her car from the river. The vehicle is considered as a total loss. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident.
