Sheldon, Iowa– A Sheldon woman was taken to the hospital after an accident in Sheldon on Friday, March 27, 2026.
The Sheldon Police Department reports that at about 7:25 a.m., 75-year-old Dennis Popkes of Sheldon was driving a 1996 GMC pickup eastbound on Highway 18 (Park Street), on Sheldon’s east side. They tell us that 49-year-old Jackie Holz of Sheldon was northbound on 34th Avenue in a 2021 Chevy SUV.
The report says that Popkes stated that the sun was in his eyes. Popkes stated that he could not see if the light was red before entering the intersection, but believed it was green. He said that by the time they realized it was red, it was too late. Popkes struck the driver’s side rear door area of the Holz vehicle. Holz said that they were turning westbound onto Park Street from northbound on 34th Avenue. Her vehicle spun in the intersection and came to a rest near the middle of the intersection. Holz told the officer that their light was green at the time of the turn. A witness on scene corroborated the information that Holz had a green light and that Popkes had a red light at the time of the accident.
The Sheldon Community Ambulance Team (SCAT) took Holz to Sanford Sheldon Hospital. Popkes did not report any injuries.
Popkes’s GMC pickup sustained $3000 in damages, and Holz’s Chevy SUV sustained $15000 in damages.
Popkes was charged with failure to obey traffic control device.
Sheldon Fire and Sheldon EMA assisted at the scene.
