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Fiery Crash In Emmet County Claims A life

May 30, 2026

(Estherville)– A fiery crash Friday on Highway 9 east of Estherville claimed the life of an Armstrong man.

The Iowa State Patrol says 41-year-old John Bumgart of Armstrong was driving a 1996 GMC Sierra westbound just east of Emmet County Road N32 and 50-year-old Karie Eisma of Hawarden was driving a 2020 Peterbilt semi eastbound. An accident report says Bumgart’s vehicle crossed the center line and collided with the semi. The impact sent Bumgart’s vehicle into the north ditch; the semi wound up in the south ditch and caught on fire, becoming fully engulfed.

Bumgart was pronounced dead at the scene; Eisma was taken by ambulance to Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.

The collision took place around 6:42 pm.