Sheldon, Iowa — Three people were transported to the hospital as the result of a traffic crash east of Sheldon Friday night.
According to the crash report from the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, shortly before 10:00 Friday night, a 2005 GMC pickup, driven by 23-year-old Drew Haack of Hospers, was pulling a hay rack loaded with round bales eastbound on Highway 18, slowly and partially on the shoulder, about a mile and a half east of Sheldon on Highway 18. Deputies say the hay rack was not equipped with any lights, nor were the lights from the truck visible from the rear, because the bales were wider than the vehicle. According to the crash report, the Visser vehicle’s visibility from the rear was further impeded by the lack of daylight and the roadway being unlighted. Deputies say the hay rack was also not equipped with reflective equipment that is required for slow moving vehicles. In addition, according to authorities, since Visser was traveling partially on the shoulder, a dust cloud was created, making the hay rack even harder to see.
Deputies report that a 2010 Chevrolet Impala, driven by 21-year-old Isaac Visser of Sanborn, was also eastbound on Highway 18. Visser reportedly told deputies that he saw a large dust cloud that kept him from seeing the hay rack ahead of him. However, he reported to deputies that he failed to slow down, even though he couldn’t see what was in front of the dust cloud. As a result, authorities report that the Visser car struck the back of the hay rack at 55 mph.
Visser and his two passengers, 18-year-old Madalyn Lorenz of Everly and 21-year-old Kaley Mazur of Sanborn, were taken by SCAT to the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center.
According to the report, one of Visser’s passengers had been sitting on the lap of the other, and was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. That passenger was reportedly cited for failing to wear a seat belt.
Haack was ticketed for Improper Rear Lamps and Failure to Display Reflective Device on Slow Moving Vehicle. Visser was reportedly cited for Following Too Close.
Deputies say Visser’s Impala was totaled in the crash. Damage to the hay rack was limited to cargo loss, according to deputies.
Deputies were assisted at the scene by Sheldon Fire Department, Sheldon Community Ambulance Team and Sheldon EMA.
