Semi Truck Crashes with Ambulance, Kills Two in Iowa
May 21st, 2010 | 
Author: BEAVER, IA – A semi trailer truck crashed with an ambulance Thursday morning, May 13, 2010, in Boone County, Iowa, killing two people inside the emergency vehicle. The deadly truck accident occurred on US 30 Highway in the rural town of Beaver, IA about 60 miles northwest of the city of Des Moines. The accident area is in the central section of the state, 146 miles northeast of Omaha, Nebraska and 138 miles west of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Rescue teams from several local departments rushed to the scene of the truck accident, including Ogden Fire and Rescue and the Grand Junction Fire Department, and worked to give aid at the site.
At around 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning 49 year old Dennis Good of Ogden, IA was driving a 2001 Western Star semi trailer truck east on US 30. The 18 wheeler truck was owned by G&M Truck Line, based in Ogden, and was hauling a load of livestock.
At the same time a 2007 GMC ambulance from Carroll County Medical Services was also traveling east on US 30, transporting critically ill Norbert Hoffman, 75, of Carroll from St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll to the Mercy Center in Des Moines. The ambulance was driven by 46 year old paramedic specialist Bob Genzen of Manning, IA, and the patient was being treated by paramedic specialist Wendy Baker, 45, and Sheryl Stoolman, 53, a long-time emergency room nurse at St. Anthony’s.
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The truck driver, Mr. Good, had pulled into the left lane of US 30 and was preparing to make a left hand turn onto B Avenue when he heard the siren and saw the flashing lights of the ambulance approaching from the behind him. The truck driver began to move back over into the right lane to yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle.
The ambulance driver saw the semi trailer truck in the left lane and attempted to move to the right, apparently not realizing that the truck driver was also moving his 18 wheeler into the right lane.
The ambulance was traveling at a high rate of speed, believed to be over 55 MPH, and was unable to slow or maneuver to avoid colliding with the trailer truck. The ambulance slammed into the rear trailer of the truck, severely damaging the front section and destroying the emergency vehicle. The flatbed truck and ambulance finally came to a stop in the eastbound lanes of US 30.
Rescue teams from several local departments rushed to the scene of the truck accident, including Ogden Fire and Rescue and the Grand Junction Fire Department, and worked to give aid at the site.
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The patient in the ambulance, Mr. Hoffman, and the emergency nurse, Ms. Stoolman, suffered fatal injuries in the multi vehicle collision and both died at the scene. The other paramedic, Ms. Baker, was also seriously injured and was attempting to administer medical aid to the patient and the ER nurse. Other EMTs had to restrain her so that they could treat her injuries which may have included a fractured leg. She was transported by ambulance to Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson and is expected to recover.
The impact of the truck accident trapped the ambulance driver, Mr. Gerzen, and firefighters had to use tools to extricate from the vehicle. Once free he was medically airlifted to Mercy Center in Des Moines.
The truck driver, Mr. Good, was also treated and taken to Greene County Medical Center with non life threatening injuries.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Department and Ogden Police officers were at the scene of the truck accident and closed down a section of US 30 while rescuers worked and crews cleared the wreckage from the roadway. The highway would remain closed for almost four hours.
Iowa State Police authorities were also assisting in the truck accident reconstruction and authorities with the state’s Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement conducted an inspection on the two vehicles. No mechanical problems were found on either vehicle.
At this time authorities believe that there were no contributing factors, such as speed or intoxicating substances, and the collision was a tragic incident.
No charges have been brought and the truck accident remains under investigation.
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