Henry County Sheriff's report

Abrupt lane change causes wreck

A 17-year-old Fairfield girl caused approximately $2,500 in damages in a car accident last Friday on U.S. 34.

On June 22, shortly after 11 p.m., the sheriff?s office was notified of a two-vehicle wreck at the off ramp for Grand Avenue from eastbound U.S. 34.

It was found that a 1995 Toyota Corolla, owned by Elizabth Gallegos and operated by Iveth Jande Coronado was eastbound on U.S. 34 in the inside lane when Coronado made an abrupt lane change in an effort to take the off ramp onto Grand Avenue.

When suddenly changing lanes, Coronado failed to yield to a 1997 Chevrolet truck owned and operated by Paul Ryan Housh, 40, of Mt. Pleasant. Housh was in the curbside lane and also headed eastbound at the time of the incident.

The Coronado vehicle turned into the truck and the collision caused the Coronado vehicle to enter the south ditch. Coronado?s Toyota then went through an Iowa Department of Transportation fence and through a private fence owned by Richard Seberg of Mt. Pleasant. The vehicle came to rest in the Seberg?s farm field.

No injuries were reported at the scene.

Damages were estimated at $1,250 to the Coronado vehicle, $500 to the Housh vehicle, $250 to the Iowa DOT fence and $500 to the Seberg farm fence.

Coronado was cited for improper use of lanes.

Trailer flipped on side on highway

Timothy D. Dameron, 58, of Mt. Pleasant was traveling westbound on U.S. 34 in his 2001 Ford truck and pulling a trailer owned by Kempkers Rental when an accident occured.

The accident happened at approximately 9:36 a.m. Saturday in the 1800 grid of U.S. 34.

According to a press release, Dameron told investigating officers that he had just rented a backhoe from Kempkers in Mt. Pleasant. While en route to his residence, the trailer began to fishtail and he could not regain control of the trailer. Dameron?s vehicle came to rest in the middle of the roadway where the trailer had flipped onto its side.

No injuries were reported and the Ford did not sustain any damage; however, the trailer owned by Kempkers was considered a total loss. The backhoe sustained some damage to the tire and rim.

Hit and run under investigation

A hit and run accident was reported June 27 at approximately 7:45 a.m. The incident occurred in the 3100 grid of Lexington Avenue.

It was reported that sometime during the night a northbound vehicle left the roadway, entered the ditch and struck an electrical pole guide wire. The impact caused the pole and a second guide wire to break.

The incident remains under investigation.

Semi strikes Sable

A two-vehicle accident happened Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Salem Road and U.S. 218/27.

During the investigation, it was found that a 2003 Mercury Sable, owned and operated by Barbara Jean Ledbetter, 77, of Salem was eastbound on Salem Road and had stopped for the U.S. 218/27 intersection. At the same time, a 2007 Volvo tractor/trailer, owned by WM Johnson Truck Lines Inc. of Ft. Madison and operated by Arnold Ray McMann, 53, of Montrose was westbound on Salem Road.

The McMann semi had crossed into the median and was waiting for a southbound farm tractor to clear the intersection prior to turning southbound.

The Ledbetter vehicle proceeded eastbound and the McMann vehicle attempted to turn left into the southbound lans of U.S. 218/27; the semi turned into the side of the Sable.

No injuries were reported at the scene.

The McMann vehicle sustained an estimated $3,000 in damages and the Ledbetter vehicle sustained an estimated $2,500 in damages.

McMann was cited for failure to yeild on a left turn.