POLK CITY – An Iowa mayor was killed in a motorcycle crash last weekend while riding on Highway 141 near Polk City, authorities say.
Todd Brandon Anderson, 61, mayor of Sheldahl, Iowa, died in the single-vehicle crash Saturday evening, August 22.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel were called at approximately 6:30 p.m. to the 10000 block of Highway 141 near Polk City for a motorcycle crash.
Anderson was later identified by authorities as the motorcyclist who died in the crash.
The circumstances that caused the motorcycle to crash remained under investigation.
Anderson had been elected mayor of Sheldahl in 2025. The small central Iowa community sits approximately 12 miles north of Ankeny near the borders of Polk, Boone and Story counties.
The City of Sheldahl announced Anderson’s death the following day, remembering him as a dedicated public servant who brought passion and a strong commitment to the community.
Mayor Pro Tem Kyle Greenwood is serving as acting mayor until a successor is appointed.
Anderson was an avid motorcyclist and was riding with his wife and friends on the day of the crash. His wife was riding another motorcycle behind him as the group made its way home following a day spent riding Iowa’s back roads.
Friends and community members remembered Anderson as an enthusiastic motorcycle rider who was frequently seen on his bike when weather permitted. He even incorporated his love of motorcycles into community activities, including once arriving at a local Easter event on his motorcycle while dressed as the Sheldahl Easter Bunny.
Anderson’s funeral service was scheduled for Saturday, August 29, at Iles Westover Chapel in Des Moines.
The fatal crash adds to what has already been another deadly year on Iowa roadways.
At the time of the crash, Iowa Department of Transportation figures showed 183 people had died in traffic crashes statewide in 2026, four more than at the same point in 2025. Of those deaths, 27 involved motorcycle crashes.
Iowa DOT fatality figures are preliminary and can change as crash investigations are completed.