(Le Mars) — Early Sunday evening, at around 6:30 p.m. neighbors around the 4th Street SW and Lincoln Avenue SW area were startled when they heard a loud crashing noise. A car heading northeast on Lincoln Avenue S.W. had failed to stop at the intersection and instead crossed the street, jumped the curb, and hit a house located at 301 4th St. S.W. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper describes the scene.
Major structural damage was done to the home, as the car hit the west side and northwest corner of the home. Schipper says MidAmerican Energy Company was called to the scene, and cut both the power and the natural gas to the home. Schipper says the home has been “red tagged” and no longer considered
safe for living. According to Le Mars Police officers investigating the scene, the vehicle had only a male driver. He has been identified as 35 year old Christopher VerMulm of Sheldon. VerMulm was transported by private vehicle to Floyd Valley Healthcare. Two people were inside the home at the time of the accident, but escaped injury. Because of the accident, officials needed to stop the trains for a period of time, while rescue workers were at the scene. Several neighbors from the surrounding area had gathered at the scene while firefighters were stabilizing the home and removing some debris. The Le Mars Police have not released the names involved with the accident, and they are continuing their investigation. Responding to the scene were the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, and the Le Mars Police Department.
