Orange City Teen Airlifted After Striking School Bus

Sioux Center, Iowa — An Orange City teen was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital after an accident near Sioux Center on Friday afternoon.

According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, about 3:50 p.m, 74-year-old James Keizer of Hull was driving a 2015 Blue Bird school bus eastbound on 370th Street. Seventeen-year-old Anneliese Vander Waal of Orange City was driving a 2012 Jeep Liberty eastbound on 370th Street behind the bus Keizer was driving. Keizer stopped for other vehicles before attempting to turn the bus north onto Hickory Avenue and Vander Waal struck the school bus.

There were no students on the bus at the time of the accident. Vander Waal was trapped in her vehicle and required mechanical extrication from members of the Sioux Center Fire Department. Following extrication, she was then transported by Sioux Center Ambulance to Sioux Center Health; she was later flown to Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD, for further medical attention. Keizer was transported by private vehicle to Hegg Health Center Avera in Rock Valley for treatment of his injuries.

Deputies tell us the school bus sustained about $15,000 in damage. They say the Jeep sustained an estimated $20,000 in damage.

The sheriff’s office says the Sioux Center Police Department, Sioux Center Fire Department, and Sioux Center Ambulance squad assisted them with the response to the accident.

Photo courtesy Sioux County Sheriff’s Office

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