On January 20, 2021, at 5:37 p.m., the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a two-vehicle accident in the 3700 block of 360th Street near Ruthven. Upon investigation it was determined a 1998 Dodge Ram pickup had went into the south ditch on January 19, 2021. Subjects were attempting to pull the Dodge Ram out of the south ditch and had stopped traffic in the roadway. Sandra Iwen (69) of Emmetsburg was eastbound on 360th Street and had stopped in the roadway allowing the Dodge Ram to be pulled from the ditch. Angel Nieves Carballo (31) of Emmetsburg was operating a 1999 Ford Explorer and did not see the Iwen vehicle stopped in the roadway. The Nieves Carballo vehicle rear-ended the stopped Iwen vehicle.
Damage to the Iwen vehicle was estimated at $3,000. Damage to the Nieves Carballo vehicle was estimated at $4,500. Iwen complained of possible injuries at the scene and was transported to the Palo Alto County Hospital.
Assisting the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office at the scene was the Ruthven Ambulance Service, Ruthven Fire Department, Emmetsburg Ambulance Service, Wickman Towing, and the Iowa State Patrol. The investigation remains under investigation.