Hawarden, Iowa — The city of Hawarden was in the dark — literally — after a car accident early on Monday, September 25th, 2023.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office tells us that about 12:40 a.m., they believe a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire, owned by Alfonso Martinez, had been traveling northbound on Buchanan Avenue, about a mile east of Hawarden, when it crossed Highway 10, left the roadway, struck a support wire for an electrical utility pole and came to rest in a creek north of Highway 10. They tell us when they arrived the driver of the vehicle had fled the scene. The support wire had detached and struck overhead power lines, causing a power outage for the city of Hawarden.
Investigating deputies located a wallet and identification belonging to Martinez and open containers of alcohol in the vehicle.
Deputies tell us they located Martinez at his home and suspected that he was under the influence of alcohol but Martinez denied driving the Pontiac that struck the electrical property.
The sheriff’s office tells us the Hawarden Fire Department and Hawarden Ambulance Squad assited them. They say the case remains under investigation.
