Fayette County Sheriff Called to Accidents

This was no regular car vs deer accident in Fayette County; authorities were called out to a semi vs mule accident. It happened at about 5am Monday, one mile east of Clermont on Apple Road. An eastbound semi driven by 54 year old Michael McClintock of Elkader, struck a mule owned by James Raatz of Clermont. The mule had wandered out onto the traveled portion of the road. The driver was not injured, but there was $4,000 in damage to the semi.

A Maynard woman is being charged with causing a one-vehicle accident in Fayette County. At about 1:30am Sunday, the Fayette County Sheriff was called out on the report of suspicious activity, about 1 mile North of West Union on "J" Avenue. The investigation determined that 48 year old Vanese Bantz was driving a pickup when she lost control and it went into the ditch. No one was injured, but Bantz was charged with failure to maintain control. The accident is still under investigation.

The Fayette County Sheriff responded to a car/deer accident at about 5pm Sunday, just west of Oelwein. 59 year old Judith Tripolino of Denver was driving west on Highway 3 when a deer came out on the road and struck her vehicle. No one was injured, but there was $2,000 in damage.

The Fayette County Sheriff was called out on another car vs deer accident at about 6:30pm Saturday, west of Clermont on Harding Road. A car driven by 29 year old Hilary Upton of Clermont struck the deer; she was not hurt, and the car had $2,000 in damages.

A Stanley driver sustained minor injuries when he rolled his pickup. This accident was Friday evening on Highway 3, east of Oelwein at the Stanley "S" curves. 20 year old Andrew Zech was headed south on W-33 when he lost control, went into the ditch, and rolled onto it's top. The pickup was totaled.