At 7:16 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2017 the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office investigated a two vehicle car accident at the intersection of Highway 18 and Highway 4. The Sheriff’s Office determined a 2001 Honda Accord driven by 26 year old Abbey Berven of Graettinger was south on Highway 4 and stopped for the stop sign. Berven then continued out into the path of a westbound 2012 Toyota Tacoma being driven by 68 year old James Miller of Spirit Lake.
Berven was extradited from her vehicle by mechanical means and was transported to the Palo Alto County Hospital by the Emmetsburg Ambulance Service with incapacitating injuries. Berven would later be transported by air ambulance to another medical facility for treatment. Miller was also transported by the Emmetsburg Ambulance Service to the Palo Alto County Hospital with minor injuries.
The 2001 Honda Berven was operating is considered to be a total loss. The 2012 Toyota operated by Miller received an estimated $5,000 in damage. Berven and Miller were both wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.
Assisting the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office at the scene was the Emmetsburg Police Department, Emmetsburg Fire Department, Palo Alto County Ambulance Service, and the Iowa State Patrol. The accident remains under investigation by the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office.