VENTURA – A crash scene response in Ventura turned into a crime investigation after a driver traveled through and struck an assisting firefighter, sending the public servant to the hospital.
At 5:11 PM on December 23, 2025, the Clear Lake Police Department along with the Ventura Fire Department were dispatched to a personal injury crash just west of the intersection of US HWY 18 and N. Main Street in Ventura, Iowa.
While first responders were managing the scene and Clear Lake officers were investigating the crash, a Ventura firefighter was struck and injured by a vehicle traveling through the crash scene. The vehicle striking the firefighter continued to travel through the original crash scene before being stopped by a Clear Lake Police Officer. The firefighter was transported to a local hospital by ambulance with non‐life‐threatening injuries. His name will not be released at this time.
For the safety of all first responders at the scene US HWY 18 was closed for a short period of time, but was soon re-opened.
The Iowa State Patrol was asked to handle the crash investigation involving the firefighter.
Both crashes remain under investigation to determine their cause and if impairment played in role in each crash.
Clear Lake Police Chief Michael Colby had the following to say about the incident:
“I am grateful that we did not have more serious injuries to our Ventura firefighter and we will keep him in our prayers hoping for a quick recovery. This is a great reminder for everyone that they must slow down, move over, and pay attention when approaching an emergency vehicle with their emergency vehicle lights activated. Also, anytime an emergency vehicle is behind you with their emergency equipment on pull to the right and yield. These incidents are preventable. With holiday travels in full swing, I also want to remind everyone that we will have extra officers patrolling our roadways looking for impaired drivers through the new year.”
The Clear Lake Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol, Clear Lake Fire Department, Forest City Fire Department, and the Cerro Gordo Sheriffs Office.”
UPDATE: According to a report from the Iowa State Patrol, the injured firefighter is 53-year-old Charles L. Shropshire of Ventura. He was taken to MercyOne North Iowa by Clear Lake ambulance.
The driver of the hit-and-run vehicle, a 2015 Ford Escape, is 66-year-old Kevin Berry of Britt.