RURAL FLOYD COUNTY – Two people died as a result of a car-train collision in rural Floyd county.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened December 1 just before noon. A 2016 Chevy Equinox driven by 66-year-old James Blazier of Harvard, Illinois was northbound on Zinnia Avenue near 260th Street at a rail crossing. As he drove into the rail crossing, the vehicle was struck by a Canadian Pacific train (engine only, no rail cars attached) on the front passenger side, causing it to roll and come to rest on its roof.
As a result, James Blazier died, as did 66-year-old Dixie Blazier, a front seat passenger. Another passenger, Gelna Mundis of Harvard, Illinois, was also hurt and taken by Mercy Air Med to Mason City for treatment.
The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Cerro Gordo county sheriffs office, the Floyd County sheriff’s office Nora Springs police, Mason City Fire.