Truck Accidents 360 Newswire

MERRILL, IA – An Iowa man died from injuries he suffered in a head-on collision with a semi truck on Tuesday. The accident happened in Plymouth County on U.S. 75, a mile north of Merrill, Iowa. The accident area is in the northwest corner of the state near the border with South Dakota, 115 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska and 216 miles northwest of Des Moines, IA.

Pickup truck collides with semi truck in Merril IA; Pickup driver killed

Tuesday morning at around 8:00 a.m., Juan Chagolla, 46 years old, and Rosalinda, 41 years old, of Le Mars, IA were southbound on U.S. 75 in their 2003 Chevrolet pick up truck. The road surfaces were icy due to winter weather conditions, and it appears that Mr. Chagolla lost traction and skidded on the slippery highway. The Chagolla pick up truck crossed over the highway median and into the northbound lanes of U.S. 75, directly in the path of an oncoming 2005 International semi truck which was pulling a gas tanker.

The truck driver, 46 year old Todd Saunders of Sioux City, IA, attempted to avoid an accident but there was not enough time and he slammed head on into the Chagolla’s pick up truck. The head-on collision pushed the smaller pick up truck into a nearby ditch.

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An officer with the Plymouth County Conservation Department was a witness to the fatal truck accident as he was already at the scene, investigating another vehicle that ended up in the ditch. Officers from the Le Mars Police Department and officials with the Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement office also reported to the truck accident scene.

In addition, emergency personnel from Merrill Ambulance and Le Mars Ambulance responded to the scene of the truck accident, where they found that Mr. Chagolla had suffered fatal injuries in the collision. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Mrs. Chagolla was treated and stabilized at the accident scene and then transported to Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, IA. After initial examination and treatment she was transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA. A Mercy Medical Center spokeswoman confirmed on Wednesday that Mrs. Chagolla was still hospitalized and her condition was listed as serious.

The truck driver, Mr. Saunders, received minor injuries in the truck collision. Emergency workers treated him at the scene and then he was released.

The tractor trailer was apparently able to remain upright after colliding with the pick up truck, and there were no reports that it was disabled. There were also no reports that the 18 wheeler spilled any fuel or that the gas tanker lost any of its contents.

The officers believe that the icy road conditions led to the truck accident, and the investigation remains open. No charges or citations have been issued at this time.

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Road conditions contribute to more than half of all deaths in vehicular crashes nationally – more than drunken driving, speeding or nonuse of seatbelts – according to a study commissioned by an industry group that advocates for boosting spending on road construction. More than half of U.S. highway fatalities are related to deficient roadway conditions – a substantially more lethal factor than drunk driving, speeding or non-use of safety belts – according to a landmark study released on July 1, 2009. Ten roadway-related crashes occur every minute (5.3 million a year) and also contribute to 38 percent of non-fatal injuries the report found. Read more about “Defective Hazardous or Unsafe Roads.”

Gordon & Elias, Nationwide truck accident attorneys, are uniquely positioned to represent truck accident victims throughout the United States. For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced Iowa truck injury lawyer, please contact us.

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