MASON CITY — A Mason City police officer was injured Tuesday afternoon when a squad vehicle responding to an emergency medical call with lights and siren activated was involved in a three-vehicle crash on Mason City’s southeast side.
The Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office says the crash happened on July 7, 2026, at approximately 2:50 p.m. at the intersection of 4th Street SE and South Kentucky Avenue in Mason City.
According to investigators, a fully marked 2025 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor was being driven by 27-year-old Mason City Police Officer Wilfredo Almendarez Valencia. He was responding to an emergency medical call with emergency lights and siren activated while traveling southbound on South Kentucky Avenue.
A preliminary investigation indicates that a blue 2010 Ford Focus SE, driven by 56-year-old Brian Anderson of Mason City, was traveling westbound through the intersection when the police vehicle collided with the passenger side of the Ford Focus.
The impact caused the Ford Focus to rotate into a green 2026 Kia Sorento EX driven by 56-year-old Karry Graney of Mason City.
Officer Almendarez Valencia and Anderson were treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. Almendarez Valencia was transported by another Mason City police officer to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center for further evaluation.
Anderson declined transportation. Graney was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office.
The Mason City Fire Department, Mason City Fire Department Paramedics and Mason City Police Department assisted at the scene.
I thought that over zealous cops were supposed to refrain from high speed chase stunts in urban or residential areas. Maybe some of these guys should have got jobs in Hollywood instead of endangering peoples lives with ego filled behavior.