Granville, Iowa — Twenty people were transported to hospitals after a pickup versus school bus accident near Granville on Tuesday morning, November 5.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports that a few minutes before 7:45 a.m., 23-year-old Elliot Dykstra of Alton was driving a 2015 Ford F-150 pickup eastbound on 430th Street, three miles north of Granville. They tell us 76-year-old John Kooiman of Orange City was driving a 2022 Thomas school bus for the Unity Christian High School southbound on Marsh Avenue. The two vehicles met and collided in the intersection.
Dykstra was transported to Sanford Sheldon Medical Center for treatment of critical injuries. Kooiman and 18 students were transported to the Orange City Area Health System for treatment of various injuries ranging from minor to serious, with the exception of one student who was transferred to Sanford Hospital and University Medical Center in Sioux Falls, and one currently under further observation.
Authorities say this is a joint accident investigation between the sheriff’s office and the Iowa State Patrol.
Incident Command was activated at Orange City Area Health System to coordinate care and communication between responding emergency services and the involved schools. The sheriff’s office was able, in conjunction with Unity Christian High School and Orange City Christian School to notify all parents to direct them to go to Orange City Area Health System to be successfully connected with their child.
Assisting emergency response was from the Orange City Police Department, Fire Departments from Hospers and Granville; and ambulance services from Alton, Granville, Hospers, Orange City, and Sheldon.
The accident remains under investigation.
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