Four traffic accidents keep area deputies busy

Henry County Sheriff?s deputies investigated four accidents ? two involving deer ? in the past week.

The sheriff?s office received a report on Dec. 5 from Deverie Kiedaisch, of Keokuk, stating that she had swerved her vehicle to avoid a tractor-trailer and subsequently drove into the ditch.

Following the investigation, it was learned that Kiedaisch was driving a Ford Fusion east on U.S. Highway 34 near mile marker 232. Kiedaisch said she was driving in the passing lane following a tractor-trailer that was traveling in the slow lane. The tractor-trailer, Kiedaisch said, suddenly drove into her lane, cutting her off. She said she swerved to avoid being hit and as a result, lost control of her vehicle and drove it into the right ditch of U.S. Highway 34.

Kiedaisch was not injured and no apparent damage was done to her vehicle. RPM Auto Repair and Towing of Fairfield removed the vehicle.

Allegedly, a deer was responsible for an accident Dec. 4 on U.S. Highway 34 near Dakota Avenue. Linda Forschler, of Pella, said a whitetail deer crossed the road in front of her and she swerved in her 1998 Mercedes Benz to avoid hitting the deer. In doing so, she lost control of her vehicle, struck a road sign, drove off the median and entered the eastbound lanes. She then drove her vehicle back into the median so she would not be blocking eastbound traffic.

Forschler was cited for failure to maintain control. RPM Auto Repair and Towing of Fairfield removed the car from the median.

A report of a single vehicle rollover in the 1400 grid of 260th Street was received on Dec. 3.

The accident report stated that Donald James Smith, of Burlington, was driving a 2001 Ford F-150 east on 260th Street. Smith stated he was changing the climate settings in the vehicle and took his eyes off the road. As a result of taking his eyes off the road, Smith drove his vehicle onto the left shoulder of 260th Street. He corrected his driving and re-entered the roadway, but in doing so, overcorrected and hit a patch of loose gravel, causing his vehicle to veer off into the left ditch of 260th Street. Upon entering the ditch, the vehicle rolled.

Smith was cited for failure to maintain control. He also sustained minor injuries and was transported to the Great River Medical Center by family members. The vehicle was totaled.

Assisting the Henry County Sheriff?s Office at the scene were Salem Fire and Rescue and the Henry County Health Center paramedics. Breuer?s Towing removed the vehicle.

A vehicle-deer accident in the 2600 grid of Highway 78 on Dec. 3 caused minor damage to a Toyota, being driven by Janett Schulz, of Mediapolis. Schulz was traveling west on Highway 78 when a whitetail deer ran out in front of her vehicle. The Schulz vehicle struck the deer, damaging the front left quarter panel of the Toyota.

A salvage tag was issued for the deer.