Weather & Other Causes in Rural Accidents

Authorities report several weekend accidents in Northeast Iowa.

The Fayette County Sheriff is investigating a weekend accident near Clermont.

It happened at about 3am Sunday (Feb. 26) on Harding Road, east of Clermont. A car driven by 38 year old Steven Gelo of Waukon went out of control and into a ditch. Gelo was treated for injuries at a local hospital. The accident remains under investigation, and charges are pending.

At around 1:30am Saturday (Feb. 25), the sheriff was notified of an accident south of Arlington. The driver, 28 year old Andrew Miringu of Fayette, phoned authorities to report that his car went into a ditch, but he did not know where he was located. After a short search, Miringu was found off Highway 187, near 50th Street. No one was injured. However, deputies determined Miringu was intoxicated. He was arrested for OWI-1st Offense, Driving While his License is Suspended, and Failure to Maintain Control.

On Friday at around 8:30am, the sheriff was alerted of a semi in the ditch on Highway 3, East of Oelwein, near "N" Avenue. 32 year old David Gal of Crestwood, Illinois, lost control of the rig, causing it to jackknife and enter a ditch. Gal was taken to Mercy Hospital in Oelwein to be treated for minor injuries. The 2007 Volvo semi had $10,000 damage. Authorities determined a combination of the weather and road conditions caused the accident.

Also on Friday, at about 5am, a car driven by 42 year old Noor Omar of Postville went out of control on Harding Road near Clermont due to weather conditions. The car ran into the ditch, but no one was injured; there was $2,000 in damage.