On 1/21/11 at 1124 hours, the Plymouth County Communications Center received several 911 calls concerning a motor vehicle accident on Highway 75 just north of Merrill, Iowa.

When emergency responders arrived at the scene, it was discovered that a small SUV had collided nearly head-on with a semi truck.  Both vehicles were disabled and sitting in the southbound lane of Highway 75 just outside Merrill.  The driver of the semi was not injured, however, the driver of the SUV was trapped inside the vehicle.  The Merrill Fire Department was called to extricate the subject from the vehicle.

Once extricated, the driver was flown to Sioux City via Mercy Air Care.  His condition is not known at this time.

A preliminary assessment of the accident indicates that road conditions may have been a factor.  The semi was southbound and the SUV was northbound.  The driver of the SUV lost control on the snow and ice covered roadway and veered into the path of the semi truck.

The 1995 Freightliner was registered to DART Transit Company out of Cary, Illinois.  It was being driven by Leo Crowell Jr from Lisman, Alabaman.

The 2003 Jeep was registered to and being driven by Timothy Joe Ruhland from Le Mars. 

The Plymouth County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Le Mars Ambulance, Merrill Fire and Ambulance, Iowa State Patrol, Mercy Air Care, Le Mars Police Department and the Iowa DOT. 

The investigation continues.