ARNOLDS PARK, IOWA – A Northern Iowa woman known for excessive speed allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way as she drove her car through this touristy area and struck an Arizona man as he crossed a street, and he ended up in a helicopter in another state fighting for his life.
Police say that an Arizona man was seriously injured early Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle in Arnolds Park, Iowa. Arnolds Park Police Chief Al Kruger says officers were notified of the accident at Highway 71 and Broadway Street around 1:18 AM. The Chief explains says 22-year-old Kiah Ritzer – who has at least two speeding tickets on her driving resume – of Spirit Lake was driving a 2019 Chrysler when she collided with 30-year-old Tyler Chaffin of Surprise, Arizona.
As a result of the collision, Chaffin was taken by ambulance to Lakes Regional Healthcare and was then transferred by air to Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Ritzer was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Arnolds Park police were assisted by the Milford and Okoboji Police Departments, Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire and Rescue and the Lakes Regional Healthcare Ambulance.