Nashua woman charged with injuring passenger in collision with semi

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A Nashua woman has been charged with seriously injuring a passenger in her vehicle when they crashed into a semi almost a year ago, after it was allegedly learned that the driver tested positive for methamphetamine or amphetamine while being treated for her injuries.

Carey Lynn Agnitsch, age 46, of Nashua, was charged with serious injury by vehicle, a Class D felony. The criminal complaint was filed July 1 and an arrest warrant was issued July 5. The warrant was served when Agnitsch went to the Sheriff’s Office last Friday.

According to a report filed in Floyd County District Court by a Floyd County sheriff’s deputy, the deputy was dispatched to a car-versus-semi accident at about 3 p.m. on July 26, 2021, at the intersection of 270th Street and Timber Avenue, about 7 miles south of Charles City.

The driver of the semi was not injured, but was concerned about the condition of Agnitsch, who was driving a 1999 Buick LeSabre, and about a passenger in the vehicle, the report said.

Agnitsch was working her rural route postal carrier job in her vehicle, the criminal complaint says.

She was northbound on Timber Avenue when she struck the eastbound semi-truck in the intersection, the report said, adding, “The intersection is unobstructed and the driver of the car should have been able to see the semi, who had the right of way. There were no signs of braking or attempts to stop or slow down by the car that was driven by Carey Agnitsch.”

Both Agnitsch and the passenger, who was sitting in the back seat, were trapped and had to be extricated by Charles City and Nashua fire departments, the report said.

Agnitsch had serious injuries and was flown to Mayo Clinic facilities in Rochester, Minnesota, by MercyOne Air Care. The passenger, who is also from Nashua, was taken by AMR ambulance to the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City, but was soon transferred to Mayo, also with serious injuries.

According to the report, an Iowa State Patrol trooper allegedly told the deputy he was aware that Agnitsch had a history of illegal drug use and might have been under the influence when the incident occurred.

“It was later learned that Carey Agnitsch tested positive for amphetamine/methamphetamine at Mayo while being treated for her injuries,” the court document says.

Agnitsch made an initial appearance on Friday, and was released under the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for July 25 in Floyd County District Court.