Lights and Sirens

Le Mars, Iowa — Three people were taken to a Sioux City hospital after a fiery crash east of Le Mars on Wednesday, September 9th 2015.

The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says that about 11:30 PM, they received a call of a possible intoxicated driver traveling west on C38 from the Cherokee County line. As deputies were enroute to check on that complaint they located a two-vehicle accident between K64 and Otter Ave on C38. That’s about six miles east of the south edge of Le Mars.

They found a 2012 Dodge Charger in the traveled portion of the roadway with a male inside of the vehicle. They report that they found a 2011 Chevy Equinox on fire in the north ditch with a male person trapped in the vehicle and a female still in the vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office says the deputies were able to put out the fire with the use of fire extinguishers.

Deputies think the Chevy was traveling east on C38 and the Dodge was traveling west. It is believed that the Chevy crossed the center line and contact was made in the west bound lane of travel.

Injured were 28-year-old Melissa Ebert and 32-year-old Damian Johnson of Cherokee, and 37-year-old Dustin Boll of Le Mars. All three people were taken to Floyd Valley Hospital and then transferred to Mercy Medical in Sioux City. The Sheriff’s Office says all the injuries were considered life-threatening at last report.

Deputies say the Le Mars and Remsen Police Departments, Le Mars, Oyens and Remsen Fire and Rescue Departments, Le Mars, Oyens and Remsen Ambulance crews and the Iowa State Patrol assisted them.

The accident remains under investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.

Hull, Iowa — One person was airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital after an accident involving a bus and a car near Hull on Wednesday morning, September 9.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports that about 7:50 AM, 58-year-old Pamela Van Sloten of Hull was driving a 2003 Ford Focus northbound on Ironwood Avenue, two and a half miles southeast of Hull. They report that 76-year-old Kenneth Draayer of Hull was driving a 2011 Blue Bird school bus southbound on Ironwood Avenue.

Before she met the bus, Van Sloten lost control of her vehicle, which slid sideways and struck the bus on the roadway.

The Hull Ambulance took Van Sloten to the Sioux Center Health Hospital. She was later flown to Avera Mckennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

There were four people on the bus at the time — three children and the driver — and none of them reported any injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office says the Ford sustained about $10,000 in damages. The bus sustained an estimated $9,000 in damages.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that the Hull Fire Department and Hull Ambulance crew assisted them on the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

Orange City, Iowa — A Hinton man was taken to the hospital after an accident in Orange City.

The Orange City Police Department reports that about 9:45 PM on Friday, September 4, 2015, 18-year-old Gable VerSchoor of Kingsley was driving a 2005 Dodge pickup southbound on Albany Place or K64. Sixty-three year-old Timothy DeBoer of Hinton was southbound in front of VerSchoor in a 2005 Lexus.

The report says that DeBoer was pulling out from the stop sign at 460th Street. It says VerSchoor didn’t notice DeBoer until it was too late and struck the DeBoer Lexus.

The Orange City Ambulance took DeBoer to Orange City Area Health System Hospital.

VerSchoor’s Dodge pickup sustained $2500 in damages, and DeBoer ‘s Lexus sustained $3000 in damages.

No charges have been filed, according to the report.