Alvord, Iowa– A Sioux Falls man was taken to the hospital after an accident at Alvord on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
The Iowa State Patrol reports that at about 10:30 a.m., 61-year-old Harlow Teunissen of Sioux Falls was driving a 2001 Peterbilt straight grain truck owned by Kekerix Kattle Company of Inwood westbound on A34, at the Main Street intersection just outside of Alvord. They tell us that 35-year-old Jericka Blankenship of Alvord was also westbound, in front of the Teunissen truck on A34 in a 2012 Chrysler minivan.
The report says that Blankenship had her signal on to make a left turn. Blankenship then stopped in the traveled portion of the westbound lane to look at a text message. Teunissen was westbound behind Blankenship. Teunissen swerved right onto the north shoulder to avoid the Blankenship minivan. Teunissen’s truck went off in the ditch which caused the truck to roll on the passenger side coming to rest in the north ditch.
The Lyon County Ambulance took Teunissen to Sanford Canton-Inwood Hospital.
Teunissen’s Peterbilt straight truck sustained $10,000 in damages, which was enough to total the truck. Blankenship’s Chrysler minivan was not damaged.
Blankenship was charged with stopping on paved part of highway and use of electronic communications device. Teunissen was charged with failure to maintain or use safety belts.
