On 01/12/2018 at 10:18 a.m. the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two vehicle accident at the intersection of Merrill Street and Rolling Street in Ruthven. Upon investigation it was determined that a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 driven and owned by Rodney Virgil Eaton of Ruthven was southbound on Merrill Street. Eaton entered the uncontrolled intersection at Merrill Street and Rolling Street. Eaton subsequently collided with a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven and owned by Alice Viola Scott of Ruthven. Scott was eastbound on Rolling Street at the time of the accident. Following the collision, the Scott vehicle struck a Jacobsen Real Estate sign that was posted in the yard at 1906 Rolling Street.
Damage to the Dodge is estimated at $7,000, damage to the Jeep is estimated at $6,000 and damage to the real estate sign is estimated at $250. Minor injuries were reported on scene. A passenger in the Eaton vehicle was transported by ambulance to Palo Alto County Hospital to receive treatment for those injuries. Eaton was issued a citation for Failure to Yield to the Vehicle on the Right. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene the Ruthven Fire Department and Palo Alto County Ambulance Service.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.