Northwest Iowa (RI) – The Plymouth County Sheriff has released more details of Saturday’s accident between a Jeep and a van-sized school bus carrying the Remsen St. Mary’s Girls Basketball team.
The sheriff says the bus stopped on County Road C-80 and attempted to turn left to go northbound on Highway 75. The Jeep was southbound on Highway 75 and collided with the bus.
Hinton Fire Chief Cameron Pierce issued a statement, saying the Jeep Compass caught fire and the Remsen St. Mary’s school bus was damaged on the driver’s side. A mass-casualty incident was declared, with all patients triaged according to the severity of injuries and taken by ambulances and helicopter to area hospitals.
Multiple people were injured, including several students on the bus, but authorities confirm there were no fatalities. Several patients were taken to hospitals in Sioux City, Sioux Falls, and Omaha by ambulance and helicopter, and Highway 75 was temporarily shut down for crash reconstruction.
Remsen St. Mary’s School Bus (Unit #1)
Driver: Scott A. Willman, 60, Remsen — Possible injuries; transported to UnityPoint North
Assistant Coach: 40-year-old male — Uninjured
Students on board (all female):
Age 16, Remsen — Major injuries; airlifted to Sanford Hospital, Sioux Falls
Age 15, Remsen — Major injuries; transported to UnityPoint South, then airlifted to UNMC Omaha
Age 18, Remsen — Major injuries; transported to UnityPoint South, then airlifted to UNMC Omaha
Age 14, Le Mars — Possible injuries; transported to UnityPoint North
Ages 15, 16, 15 — Treated at the scene and not transported
Total occupants on the bus: 9
2016 Jeep Compass (Unit #2)
Driver: Joshua K. Monroy, 32, Le Mars — Minor injuries; transported to UnityPoint North
Passenger: Clifford M. Monroy, 32, Pierre, SD — Possible injuries; transported by private vehicle
Passenger: Male, age 3, Le Mars — Possible injuries; transported to UnityPoint North
Passenger: Male, age 11, Pierre, SD — Possible injuries; transported by private vehicle
Total occupants in the Jeep: 4
Statement from Remsen St. Mary’s
In a post on X, the school emphasized that all students survived, adding that three girls are continuing to recover from significant injuries.
“We thank God that all students survived, and we are holding especially close in prayer the three girls who are recovering from severe injuries,” the Remsen St. Mary’s Basketball account wrote.
Investigation Continues
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol continue to investigate the crash.
The Remsen St. Mary’s Girls Basketball team was on its way home from playing a scrimmage at Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. The number of victims, their status, and their names have not been released. The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Remsen St. Mary’s School will hold an “Anointing of the Sick” mass on Friday afternoon. The Subway in Le Mars has announced that 20 percent of sales made from 4 ’til 8 p.m. today (Tuesday) will be donated to support the hospitalized students.
Statement on behalf of Remsen St. Mary School 11-18-25:
In response to the numerous requests from the public to financially assist the students of the Nov. 15 traffic accident and their families, the Remsen St. Mary School administration has established accounts at two financial institutions to accept donations.
Accounts are available at American Bank in Remsen and Iowa State Bank in Remsen under the name:
Remsen St. Mary’s Catholic Schools Girls Basketball Donation Account
to accept these contributions.
Remsen St. Mary administration advises that three students remain hospitalized following the accident. The school and families are very grateful for the outpouring of prayer and concern from the public regarding all those affected by the accident.
Websites for the financial institutions: https://am-bank.bank/ for American Bank and
https://www.iowastate.bank/locations/remsen for Iowa State Bank.
Point of contact:
Dawn Prosser
Director of Communications
Sioux City Diocese
KIWA Staff Photo
