ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA — An Iowa woman was killed and another person was seriously injured after authorities say a 19-year-old driver failed to stop at a stop sign and slammed into an open-top Jeep at a rural intersection.
The deadly crash happened at approximately 3:53 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2026, at the intersection of County Road A34 and County Road K52 in Lyon County.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Tristan Smith, 19, of Rock Rapids, was driving a 2021 Buick Envision northbound on County Road K52.
At the same time, Steven Ludwig, 69, of Sibley, was traveling eastbound on County Road A34 in an open-top 1991 Jeep Wrangler. Joleene Klaassen, 73, of Sibley, was riding as a passenger in the Jeep.
Investigators say Smith failed to stop at the stop sign and drove into the intersection, where the Buick collided with the Jeep.
The impact sent both vehicles into the northeast ditch.
Both Ludwig and Klaassen were ejected from the open-top Jeep.
Klaassen suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. Her body was transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.
Ludwig was injured and transported by helicopter to Sanford Sioux Falls for treatment.
The Iowa State Patrol crash report lists Ludwig as not wearing a seat belt. Curiously, the report lists Klaassen as having been restrained by a seat belt despite stating that both occupants of the Jeep were ejected during the collision.
Smith was not listed among the injured in the State Patrol’s minimal crash report.
Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Trackside Towing.
The Iowa State Patrol investigated the crash with assistance from Lyon County emergency personnel and other local responders.
The crash remains part of Iowa’s mounting highway death toll in 2026. As of July 21, the Iowa Department of Transportation reported 158 traffic fatalities statewide this year. The DOT notes that the most recent fatality figures are preliminary and can change as crash investigations are completed.