OSKALOOSA — A Saturday morning traffic incident in Oskaloosa involving a Wal-Mart semi truck resulted in over $85,000 of estimated damages.
The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Saturday, March 23rd, at approximately 6:50am, the Mahaska County Dispatch Center began receiving 911 calls concerning a Walmart semi-tractor/trailer driving in an erratic manner. These calls indicated that the semi had been northbound on Highway 63/163 south of Oskaloosa. The callers indicated that this semi had exited the highway at exit 60 and struck a utility pole, causing the pole to fall over the highway. Near the 1900 block of South Market Street, the semi-truck struck another vehicle, failing to stop. The semi continued into Oskaloosa, losing parts of several tires. The semi continued northbound through the city, failing to obey the traffic signals throughout town.
An Oskaloosa Police Unit located the semi near the 2400 block of North Market Street, still traveling northbound. Upon activating the emergency lights and sirens behind this vehicle, it failed to stop for the officer. Members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol assisted with attempting to stop this vehicle. The semi-truck continued northbound on Highway 63 until it reached the 2000 block, near the South Skunk River. At this location, the semi became disabled and was unable to continue traveling.
Members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office then removed the driver from the vehicle. The driver was identified as 64-year-old Ricky Allen Brown of Richland, Missouri. It was determined that Mr. Brown was suffering from a medical condition. An ambulance was called to the scene of this traffic stop and Mr. Brown was taken to the Mahaska Health hospital, where he was stabilized. Brown was then transferred to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for further treatment.
The damage to the Wal-Mart semi truck is estimated to be in excess of $50,000. The damage to the utility pole is estimated at $15,000. The damage to the vehicle struck by the semi is estimated to be $10,000. In addition to these damages, there were four additional vehicles that suffered approximately $10,000 in damages from striking debris left on the highway by the semi.
