RURAL WINNEBAGO COUNTY – An elderly Northern Iowa man driving his Buick Encore in rural Winnebago county crossed the center line on a roadway and struck a young man’s motorcycle head-on, as well as sideswiped another, and lives were changed permanently.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident took place at 4 PM on Saturday, July 5, on Highway 9 in rural Winnebago county between Leland and Thompson. Two Harley-Davidson motorcycles were westbound on Highway 9 from 150th Avenue, one operated by 21-year-old David Raak of Spirit Lake, Iowa (with passenger 21-year-old Kayla Hudelson of Belle Fourche, South Dakota) and the other 64-year-old Daniel Raak of Spirit Lake. The Patrol says at this time and location, 95-year-old Leroy Weaver of Buffalo Center was eastbound in a 2015 Buick Encore and crossed the center line of Highway 9. He sideswiped Daniel Raak’s motorcycle and struck David Raak’s motorcycle head-on. Daniel Raak’s motorcycle continued losing control and stopped on the north shoulder. David Raak’s motorcycle was pushed back from the point of impact and stopped on the north shoulder. The Buick entered the north ditch and came to rest in a field.
Kayla Hudelson was ejected and landed on the north shoulder, the Patrol says.
All four persons were taken by ambulance to Mercy One North Iowa in Mason City.
Tragically, David Raak was did not survive the accident, and the extent of the injuries of the others was not released.