(Le Mars) — Several 9-1-1 calls were received this morning at around 6:10 a.m. by the Plymouth County and Woodbury County Communications Centers regarding a reckless driver heading northbound on Highway 75 from Sioux City. Initially,
Plymouth County deputies and the Iowa State Patrol were unable to locate the suspect vehicle. However, at approximately 6:25 a.m. a personal injury accident was reported at county road K-22 and 140th street in Plymouth County. When
responding officers arrived at the collision site, the vehicle was identified as the vehicle in question that was called in as the reckless driver. 40 year old Chad Bechtel of Ankeny, Iowa was operating a 2017 Chevy Impala heading northbound on county road K-22. Bechtel crossed the center line striking a 2002
Ford Escape being driven by 51 Maureen Hansen of Rock Valley. The Bechtel vehicle rolled and came to rest on its top on the shoulder of the road. The Hansen vehicle came to rest in a nearby farmyard. Bechtel and Hansen both
refused medical treatment at the scene. A passenger in the Bechtel vehicle was taken by Akron Ambulance to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars for a suspected drug overdose. Bechtel was evaluated by a Drug Recognition Expert from the Le
Mars Police Department and subsequently arrested by the Iowa State Patrol for operating while intoxicated and driving left of center. He was booked into the Plymouth County jail. The Iowa State Patrol is conducting the crash investigation with assistance from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Assisting at the scene were the Akron Fire Department and Akron Ambulance and Le Mars Ambulance.
