Updated: Six injured when pickup hits Mennonite buggy west of Colwell

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A collision on a rainy, dreary Tuesday afternoon less than half a mile west of Colwell involved a horse-drawn Mennonite buggy and a pickup truck and sent the six family members who were in the buggy to the hospital.

According to a preliminary report by the Iowa State Patrol, a 1998 Chevrolet 1500 pickup driven by Jim Whitmarsh, age 66, of Charles City, was traveling east in the 3100 block of 140th Street when it struck the rear of a horse-drawn buggy that was also traveling east on that road. The impact caused the buggy occupants to be ejected, the State Patrol report says.

In the buggy were Charles City residents Lavern Stauffer, age 32, and Teresa Stauffer, age 27, along with their children, Jenna, age 6; Alex, age 4; Tamara, age 2; and Charlotte, 3 weeks old.

Christine Martin, Lavern Stauffer’s sister, said Wednesday that the father and mother had been taken to the Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus, in Rochester, Minnesota, and held overnight for observation. Charlotte was also taken to Mayo and admitted for observation.

Martin told the Press that those three had been released from the Mayo hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Jenna was released from Floyd County Medical Center Tuesday evening with a fractured shoulder, and Alex was released from FCMC Tuesday evening with a fractured leg.

Tamara, the 2-year-old daughter, was in more serious condition when admitted to Mayo, possibly suffering brain trauma and with two fractures in one leg that they initially thought would require surgery.

Martin said Wednesday afternoon that Tamara’s broken leg was able to be set and a cast applied, so surgery was not needed, and she was being brought out of sedation.

Martin said Thursday night that Tamara was still at Mayo for pain control, but “she’s eating and doing well otherwise.”

The rest of the family was recovering, she said.

Martin also told the Press the horse that was pulling the buggy survived without injuries.

She said the Stauffers said they were so grateful to all the first responders and emergency professionals who “rush headfirst into a terrible situation to comfort, hold, help and care for” those involved.

Ambulances, law enforcement and other emergency services were called from around the area to respond to the incident, which occurred at about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday. Emergency radio scanner traffic indicated that the MercyOne Air Med helicopter in Mason City had been requested but was unable to respond.

Lavern Stauffer was transported by Chickasaw EMS, and the rest of the injured buggy occupants were transferred by AMR ambulance. All six were initially transported to Floyd County Medical Center, which closed its ER to other incoming transports for a while as it cared for all those injured in the buggy accident.

The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol. Also assisting at the scene were the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Colwell Fire Department, Floyd Fire Department, Floyd County Search and Rescue, AMR ambulance and Chickasaw EMS.