Multiple vehicle accident near New London injures three

By Bryce Kelly and Karyn Spory, Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? One person was airlifted and two were taken to area hospitals for medical treatment following a multiple vehicle accident Thursday afternoon on Highway 34.

Emergency response vehicles were called to the scene of a multiple vehicle accident shortly before 1 p.m., Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 34 and 260th Street outside of New London.

According to official reports, Ronald Platt, 74, of New London, was turning north onto 260th Street from Highway 34 going eastbound when he failed to see a tractor-trailer operated by Joshua Krieger, 31, of Waterloo, who was traveling westbound on Highway 34. Platt pulled out in front of Krieger and the two vehicles collided. Melissa Jacobs, 41, of New London, was waiting to turn westbound onto Highway 34 from 260th Street, and was also struck by Krieger?s vehicle.

All three vehicles came to rest in the north ditch of Highway 34.

By 1:30 p.m., MedForce was on the scene and airlifted Platt to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Krieger was taken to Henry County Health Center via ambulance, and Jacobs was taken to the University of Iowa via ambulance for treatment of injuries.

Jacobs is an employee of New London Community School District and was driving a school vehicle at the time of the incident.

New London Superintendent Chad Whals told The News this morning that Jacobs was transporting two students to Mt. Pleasant Thursday afternoon for classes at the time of the accident.

The two students were taken to Great River Medical Center and released to their parents later that afternoon.

Jacobs was transported to the Henry County Health Center for treatment where it was discovered she had several cracked ribs and a partial collapsed lung. Jacobs was then transported to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

?The latest update this morning was that she was recovering well and thought she would possibly be released today (Friday),? Whals said in an email.

In a statement made by Wahls on the district?s official Facebook page yesterday, he said the district greatly appreciated everyone?s concern in regards to the accident.

The students? names have not been released.

All parties involved were wearing seatbelts, according to the official crash report, and all four lanes of Highway 34 were shut down briefly while the scene was cleared.

Local law enforcement agencies including the New London Police Department, Henry County Sheriff?s Office and the Iowa State Police all responded to the scene.