BADGER, IA : Five injured in U.S. Highway 169 crash involving three vehicles on Friday, October, 27th 2017

A woman was trapped in a wrecked pickup truck following a three-vehicle crash Friday evening on U.S. Highway 169 in northern Webster County that sent four other people to area hospitals as well.

Firefighters removed the roof of the pickup to free her.

The crash happened at 6:33 p.m. on U.S. Highway 169 between Riverside Drive and the border of Webster and Humboldt counties. It involved a Dodge pickup, a Mercedes-Benz sedan and a Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicle.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Neil Morenz said the crash happened when a southbound 2002 Mercedes Benz operated by Kenneth Johns, of Fort Dodge, crossed the center line of the highway and ”front end sideswiped” a northbound 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup operated by Cindy Pontious, of Des Moines.

Following the collision, the pickup truck landed on its side in the ditch on the east side of the highway.

The Mercedes-Benz then sideswiped a 2008 Toyota 4Runner operated by Kelly Danilson, of Des Moines, according to Morenz.

The car spun around and stopped in the northbound lane while the sport utility vehicle stopped in the northbound lane

Firefighters from Badger and Clare stabilized the truck with large struts and blocks of wood called cribbing. Then they used a variety of hydraulic rescue tools and saws to free Pontious.

Badger Assistant Fire Chief Don Ashenfelter said the firefighters cut the posts that support the truck’s roof, and then pulled the roof down and off to reach the woman.

She was wearing a seat belt, which held her in place when the pickup rolled onto its side, according to Morenz.

Pontious was taken to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center with incapacitating injuries, Morenz said.

He said Johns was transported to Trinity Regional Medical Center initially, but will be transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for treatment of head injuries.

A passenger in Johns’ vehicle, Shelby Kirchgatter, of Humboldt. was treated at Trinity Regional Medical Center and released, Morenz said.

Danilson and two passengers in that vehicle were treated at Humboldt County Memorial Hospital and released, he added.

The injured people were transported in ambulances from the hospital and the Fort Dodge Fire Department. Rescuers wanted to call in the UnityPoint Health — LifeFlight helicopter, but bad weather prevented the helicopter from flying.

The crash caused traffic to come to a halt in both the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 169. The traffic backup lasted until about 8 p.m.

Firefighters from Badger, Clare and Fort Dodge; the Clare Rescue Squad; the Iowa State Patrol and the Webster County Sheriff’s Department responded.

An emergency vehicle on its way to the crash struck a deer on U.S. Highway 169. The Chevrolet Suburban belonging the Badger Fire Department suffered minor damage, including a broken headlight, according to Ashenfelter.


Source :
Woman pinned following wreck