Sioux Center, Iowa — Seven people were taken to the hospital, two of them by ambulance after an accident in Sioux Center on Thursday, May 27, 2021.
The Sioux Center Police Department reports that about 7:25 a.m., 27-year-old Eric Pauli of Brandon was driving a 2013 Ford van northbound on Highway 75, in Sioux Center, near Pizza Hut. They say 22-year-old Maria Lopez Martin of Sioux Center was westbound on 20th Street Southeast in a 2009 GMC SUV.
The report says that Lopez Martin failed to stop for the stop sign and entered the intersection without slowing. Pauli attempted an evasive maneuver as Lopez Martin entered the intersection in front of him, but was unable to avoid a collision. Pauli collided with the driver door of Lopez Martin’s SUV, causing it to enter the ditch on the northwest corner of the intersection, where the SUV struck a tree, causing damage to the front and passenger side.
The Sioux Center Ambulance took Lopez Martin and a passenger in her vehicle to Sioux Center Health Hospital. Private vehicles took five occupants in Pauli’s van to Sioux Center Health Hospital.
The vehicles received $10,000 in damage, each, which was enough to total both vehicles.
Lopez Martin was cited on a charge of failure to obey a stop sign and a charge of no valid driver’s license.
