(KIWA Staff Photo)
Rock Rapids, Iowa– A Sibley woman has died, and two people were taken to the hospital after a crash near Rock Rapids on Sunday, July 12, 2026.
The Iowa State Patrol reports that at about 3:55 p.m., 19-year-old Tristan Smith of Rock Rapids was driving a 2021 Buick SUV northbound on K52 — also known as Hickory Avenue — about six miles south of Rock Rapids’ east side or 10 miles due north of Hull. They tell us that 69-year-old Steven Ludwig of Sibley was eastbound on A34 — also known as 210th Street — in an open-top 1991 Jeep Wrangler.
The report says that Smith allegedly failed to obey the stop sign, and his vehicle collided with the Ludwig vehicle.
A passenger in Ludwig’s vehicle, 73-year-old Joanne Klaassen of Sibley, died as a result of the crash. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Lyon County Ambulance took both Smith and Ludwig to Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids. Ludwig was further transported to Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls by Sanford AirMed helicopter.
Both vehicles were totaled in the crash.
The Lyon County Ambulance Squad, Rock Rapids Fire Department, and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the response to the crash.
