FAYETTE COUNTY – A Northern Iowa woman was severely hurt when wind opened a door in the ATV she was riding in, then blew her right out the door.
On November 15, 2025, at approximately 11:36am, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single vehicle accident on T Avenue near 90th Street, approximately one mile south of Westgate. After further investigation, it was determined that Shawn Allen Phillips, age 39 of Hudson, was north bound in a Red 2024 Can Am Defender XT when the wind blew open the soft-framed passenger door. The passenger was identified as Cara Christine Conroy, age 41 of Hudson. Cara was not wearing a seat belt, grabbed the door, and was ejected from the Can Am. Cara received life threatening injuries and was transported to Mercy One Hospital in Oelwein where she was later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Westgate Ambulance, Westgate Fire Department, Gunderson Air, and the Iowa State Patrol. This accident remains under investigation.
Later, according to social media, Cara posted, “Hey everyone! Thank you so much for the prayers and support! I’ve been home almost a week now. Bald but beautiful lol I still have the wound vac on my head and the NG feeding tube in. Hopefully having surgery December 11th to get the wound vac and tube out of my nose. This has been one of the most insane events in my life. I was told that many doctors did not think I would live. Well, I’m pretty stubborn and don’t like to be told what to do, so I lived lol no one can believe how fast I am recovering. It’s kind of a medical mystery. I should have been in the hospital for a month, but I lasted a week and got the heck out of there lol hoping the surgery goes well so I won’t have a massive permanent bald spot but even if I do, I’m still alive, so that’s still a win! Thank you to everyone who has sent prayers and thoughts my way. I don’t post a lot but you can always look on my fb page and see little updates I do. Again, thank you everyone. I have a new appreciation for life.”