Merill, Iowa — A 6-year old child is dead, and four other people are hospitalized, following a two-vehicle crash at the north edge of Merrill on Highway 75 last (Monday) night.
The Iowa State Patrol says about 8:45 pm, a 2009 Nissan Rogue SUV, driven by 38-year old Mohamed Abdullahi-Mohamud, of Sioux City, was southbound on Highway 75. Troopers say preliminary findings indicate the SUV dropped off the travelled portion of the highway, onto the west shoulder. The report says Abdullahi-Mohamud then over-corrected and lost control, crossing two southbound lanes and a center turn lane, colliding nearly head-on with a 2008 Dodge Dakota pickup, driven by 33-year old Sarah Coleen Landsness of Le Mars.
A passenger in the SUV, 6-year old Ayaan Ibrahn was reportedly killed in the crash. The SUV’s driver was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Two other passengers in the SUV were injured. 34-year old Hawo G. Arab suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and 8-month old Rayan Arab suffered serious injuries. Landsness, who was the lone occupant of the pickup, was reportedly hospitalized with serious injuries.
Troopers say both vehicles were totaled in the collision.
The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol Technical Investigation Unit and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Troopers were assisted at the scene by officers from the Merrill Police Department, Hinton Police Department, Le Mars Police Department, as well as Merrill Fire and Ambulance, Le Mars Fire and Ambulance, Hinton Ambulance, Iowa Department of Transportation Maintenance, and Stockton Towing.
*******************************************************************
First update posted 9:43 am, 9/18/2018
Merrill, Iowa — At least one person was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 75 north of Merrill last night.
Iowa State Patrol trooper Chad Peters says a vehicle with a family of four inside,crossed the center line and struck a second vehicle head-on around 8:50 pm.
He says the southbound vehicle included a male driver, a female passenger, a small child and a baby. The second vehicle included a female driver. Many of the injured victims were initially transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, then transferred to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.
No additional information has been released on who was killed in the crash. A detour was in place for nearly three hours as law enforcement officials investigated.
*******************************************************
Original post 9:43 am 9/18/2018
Merrill, Iowa — One person lost their life, and others were injured in a crash that happened about 8:45 Monday night on Highway 75 at the north edge of Merrill.
The Iowa State Patrol says the crash happened when, for an unknown reason, a southbound 2009 Nissan Rogue SUV left the roadway, and went out of control when the driver attempted to reenter the highway, entering the northbound lanes and striking a northbound 2008 Dodge Dakota pickup nearly head-on.
Troopers say there were four people in the SUV, and one occupant of the pickup.
Names of those involved in the crash have been witheld pending notification of next of kin, according to troopers.
