Little Rock, Iowa — A semi driver was taken to a hospital after a wreck involving two semis near Little Rock on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports that about 3:50 p.m., Tyler VanVeldhuizen of Rock Rapids was westbound on Highway 9, about a mile west of Little Rock in a truck owned by VanVeldhuizen Trucking of Rock Rapids. The sheriff’s office says that due to the extremely windy conditions his trailer drifted onto the shoulder. They report that VanVeldhuizen overcorrected and crossed the centerline of the roadway. VanVeldhuizen’s trailer struck the trailer of an eastbound semi, driven by Michael Ritter of Hazelton, and owned by Michel’s Trucking from Hazelton, causing the Michels semi to overturn on the roadway. The VanVeldhuizen truck veered into the south ditch where it came to rest upright.
The Little Rock Ambulance took Ritter to the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley. His injuries were described as “minor.” VanVeldhuizen was uninjured.
They tell us both trucks and trailers are considered a total loss.
Deputies were assisted on scene by Little Rock Fire and Ambulance, the Iowa State Patrol and Trackside Towing from Alvord.
According to Little Rock Fire Chief Joe Schilling, the fire department had to contain a fuel leak on the overturned truck. He says Highway 9 was closed for about two hours. According to Schilling, they used around 3000 gallons of water to remove debris from the road. Schilling says the Iowa Department of Natural Resources also assisted.
