(KIWA Staff Photo)Lester, Iowa– A Lester woman was taken to the hospital after a crash in Lester on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports that at about 4:00 p.m., 77-year-old Linda Kellenberger of Lester was driving a 2017 Lincoln SUV southbound on Clinton Street or K30 in Lester. They tell us that 46-year-old Martha Knoblock of Rock Rapids was also southbound on Clinton in front of Kellenberger in a 2020 Ford SUV.
The report says that a West Lyon School Bus was stopped near the intersection of Depot and Clinton streets with its red lights flashing and stop sign extended, intending to offload students. Knoblock stopped just behind the school bus, waiting for the bus to offload students. Kellenberger did not see the school bus or Knoblock before rear-ending the Knoblock vehicle. The front airbag of Kellenberger’s SUV deployed, and she sustained suspected minor injuries. The passenger airbag of her vehicle did not deploy, and the passenger reported pain. Kellenberger stated that she and her minor passenger were not wearing their seatbelts. Kellenberger also stated that the rear of Knoblock was covered in dirt and that it contributed to the collision.
The Lyon County Ambulance took Kellenberger and her minor passenger to Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids.
Kellenberger’s Lincoln SUV was considered totaled with about $16,000 in damages, and Knoblock’s Ford SUV sustained about $10,000 in damages.
She was charged with failure to stop in assured clear distance and failure ot use child restraint device.
