(Spirit Lake)– A two-vehicle crash on Highways nine and 71 just east of Spirit Lake late Monday afternoon has claimed a life.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office says Philip Staples of Sheldon was eastbound, driving a 1999 Volvo semi-tractor pulling a tanker, while the driver of a 1994 Lexus was westbound. Authorities say the driver of the Lexus lost control and slid sideways into the path of the semi. The collision took place in the eastbound lane of the highway, with the Lexus coming to rest in the south ditch. Staples wasn’t injured. The driver of the Lexus was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s name isn’t being released pending notification of relatives.
The semi-tractor sustained an estimated 10-thousand dollars in damage with no damage reported to the tanker-trailer. Five thousand dollars in damage was estimated to the Lexus.
The mishap took place shortly before 4:00 p.m. Traffic was routed around the scene for about two hours while crews worked to clean up the wreckage.
The crash was investigated by the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol. The Spirit Lake Police Department, Spirit Lake Fire Department, Spirit Lake First Responders, Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance and Dickinson County Office of Emergency Management assisted on the scene.
Authorities say the crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.
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