Iowa woman killed in Tuesday evening collision with semi-truck

RED OAK, IOWA – An Iowa woman has died following a two-vehicle accident involving a semi-truck at a lonely rural intersection Tuesday afternoon.

According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, the fatality occurred on May 5, 2026, at approximately 5:15 PM at the intersection of Highway 34 and 4th Street in Red Oak.

Investigators determined that 67-year-old Helen Louise Slavinski, a Red Oak resident, was driving a 2008 Scion northbound on 4th Street. As Slavinski entered the intersection, she reportedly failed to yield to eastbound traffic on Highway 34. Her vehicle was subsequently struck by an eastbound 2015 Peterbilt semi-truck driven by 37-year-old Kyle Olive of Corning.

The impact sent the Scion into the north ditch. Slavinski, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision, sustained fatal injuries and was transported by Red Oak Rescue to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.

A passenger in the Scion, 28-year-old Kaylin Marie Carlson of Red Oak, was also transported to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital with injuries. Authorities noted that Carlson was wearing a seatbelt, which they credited with saving her life. The driver of the semi-truck, which is operated by Peterson Farm Trucking LLC, did not report injuries at the scene.

Both vehicles were totaled and removed from the scene by Richter’s Towing. The Iowa State Patrol continues to investigate the details of the crash.