BUTLER COUNTY — A Tuesday morning commute turned into a harrowing rescue operation after a collision between a passenger car and a semi-truck sent two Northern Iowa teenagers to the hospital—one via emergency air transport.
The crash occurred at approximately 6:54 AM on February 10, 2026, on Highway 57, just west of the intersection with County Road T55.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, 15-year-old Joclyn Elizabeth Bolhuis of Parkersburg was driving a 2015 Buick LaCrosse eastbound on Highway 57. As she attempted to turn onto County Road T55, her vehicle was struck in the roadway by a westbound 2025 Freightliner semi-truck driven by 63-year-old Michael Scott Heideman of Grundy Center.
The impact was severe, leaving the Buick heavily damaged and requiring both vehicles to be towed from the scene.
Inside the Buick were Joclyn and her 14-year-old passenger, Shonna Christine Bolhuis. Emergency responders noted that the outcome could have been far more tragic; both girls were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the impact. Investigating officers explicitly noted in the crash report that seatbelt use likely saved both of their lives.
Joclyn Bolhuis was transported by ambulance to Allen Hospital with injuries. The situation was more critical for 14-year-old Shonna, who was met on-scene by a University of Iowa AirCare helicopter. She was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment of her injuries.
The driver of the semi-truck, which is owned by Cedar Falls-based Kruger Farms, was not reported as injured.
The intersection was a scene of intense activity for several hours as multiple agencies coordinated the rescue and the subsequent cleanup. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, MercyOne Ambulance, and the Cedar Falls and New Hartford Fire Departments.
While the physical evidence of the crash is clear, the exact circumstances leading up to the collision remain under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.
For the families of Parkersburg, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of seatbelt safety, especially during the busy morning hours when passenger vehicles and heavy farm-related commerce share the rural highways of Iowa.