(Storm Lake)—A snowmobile crash Friday just east of Storm Lake seriously injured an Emmetsburg woman, who was a passenger on the sled. The operator faces charges.
The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office says authorities were called shortly before 11:30 p.m. after getting a report of the crash in an open farm field. Upon arriving on the scene deputies identified the injured person as 37-year-old Laura Wheeler-Plantz of Emmetsburg. She was taken to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and was transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City with head and torso injuries.
Upon investigating, deputies determined the operator of the snowmobile, 27-year-old Brent Ulrich of Albert City, was allegedly intoxicated. He was charged with operating while intoxicated.
In addition, authorities discovered Ulrich had a concealed 9 millimeter handgun on his person. Authorities say Ulrich had a valid permit to carry the gun, but when a person is intoxicated that permit is NOT valid, as well as when operating a snowmobile. An additional charge of carrying a concealed weapon was filed against Ulrich.
Authorities say additional charges are possible due to the seriousness of the injuries Wheeler-Plantz sustained.
