On Sunday, August 2nd, 2015, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a one vehicle accident at the intersection of 490th Street and 545th Avenue. Following an investigation into the accident, it was determined that Mitchell Carroll, 21, of Corwith was driving a 2005 Ford Taurus eastbound in the 5400 block of 490th Street. Carroll was following other vehicles while he was approaching the T intersection at 545th Avenue and 490th Street. Due to dust in the air from other vehicles, Carroll was unable to see the intersection and slow his vehicle to negotiate the intersection. Carroll attempted to turn southbound onto 545th Avenue, but lost control of the vehicle. Carroll’s vehicle slid sideways into the east ditch. Once entering the ditch, Carroll’s vehicle rolled 3/4 of a roll and came to rest on the passenger side of the vehicle.
Carroll and two other passengers fled the accident scene. Carroll’s two passengers, Rachel Wirtz, 18, of West Bend along with a juvenile passenger were both transported by private vehicle to the Algona Hospital to be treated for serious injuries sustained in the accident. Carroll was not injured and did not seek medical attention. Carroll’s vehicle was deemed a total loss in the accident. Following the investigation, The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office cited Mitchell Carroll with failure to report a personal injury accident, failure to obey a stop sign, and failure to maintain control of a vehicle= all simple misdemeanors. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office also cited Rachel Wirtz for minor in possession of alcohol, a simple misdemeanor.