(Ruthven)– A head-on collision late Thursday afternoon on Highway 18 just west of the Clay/Palo Alto county line claimed the life of a Spencer woman.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says 77-year-old Opal Frerichs of Spencer was driving a 1992 Chevrolet Corsica eastbound in the westbound lane when she collided head-on with a 1994 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by 20-year-old Alex Heldt of Mallard.
Frerichs was taken by ambulance to the Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg where she was pronounced dead.
Heldt was taken by ambulance to Spencer Hospital and was transferred by air to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls with internal injuries and several fractured bones. He is listed in stable condition.
Authorities say the weather and medical conditions may have been contributing factors in the crash.
Four thousand dollars in damage was estimated to the vehicle driven by Frerichs; damage to the vehicle Heldt was driving was estimated at 5,500-dollars.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on the scene by the Iowa State Patrol and Ruthven Fire and Rescue.
The collision took place around 4:20 p.m.
Authorities say it remains under investigation.
