Accident Victims Now Identified – (Updated)
(Le Mars) — Authorities have now released the names of the victims with the fatal accident that occurred Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 75 and county road C-38. The dead accident victim has been identified as 99 year old Melvin Hanson of Emerson, Nebraska. The victim in the car with Melvin Hanson was his wife, 64-year old Kathy Yoder. Yoder was released from Floyd Valley Healthcare shortly after her arrival with minor injuries. The driver of the semi truck and trailer was 53-year old Dewayne Whitney from Tenstrike, Minnesota. He was not injured or treated.
(Le Mars) — Emergency rescue crews were summoned to the intersection of Highway 75 and county road C-38, about two miles southwest of Le Mars at about 3:50 p.m. Thursday afternoon. A northbound semi truck and trailer had collided with a vehicle heading westbound and attempting to cross the intersection. Three people were involved with the accident. One victim was listed as a fatality, although the name of the victim is being withheld at this time. The other two were listed as minor injuries. Northbound traffic on Highway 75 was backed up to Merrill while authorities were dealing with the accident scene. Officials had re-directed the traffic to head east on County Road C-38. The Le Mars Police Department is investigating the accident. Responding to the accident were the Le Mars Ambulance Services, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Police Department, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement, and the Iowa Department of Transportation – Road Division.
