(Royal)– One person was taken to the hospital Tuesday when an S-U-V he was driving collided with a road grader in Clay county.
The Iowa State Patrol says 74-year-old Mark Wilms of Royal was driving a 2023 Ford Bronco and 53-year-old Darrel Santage of Royal was driving a 2022 Caterpillar motor grader. Troopers say both were traveling southbound on 180th
Avenue near 410th Street about three miles east of Royal. An accident report says Wilms approached the grader from behind and was attempting to pass it when his vision became obscured, causing him to misjudge the width of the grader and blade, resulting in a collision. The impact caused the vehicle driven by Wilms to overturn, coming to rest on the roadway.
Wilms sustained minor injuries and was taken by private vehicle to Spencer Hospital.
Wilms was cited for passing with insufficient visibility and distance. Damage to the vehicle he was driving was estimated at $20,000; no damage was reported to the road grader.
The collision took place around 3:00 pm. Troopers say the fact Wilms was wearing a seatbelt and the airbag in his vehicle deployed prevented the injuries from being much worse or even fatal.
