Four people were injured in the early morning hours of Friday, August 7th in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 218 in Henry County, less than 12 hours after a separate injury crash with four people in the same county, according to an Iowa State Patrol crash report.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:18 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 218 southbound and School Avenue near mile marker 56. According to the report, a 2026 Ford F-450 driven by Pamela J. Twardowski, 41, of Swanville, Minnesota, was traveling southbound on Highway 218 when a 2010 Volvo XC60 driven by Rachel M. VonWillard, 45, of Southaven, Mississippi, departed the eastbound stop sign on School Street, crossed the southbound lanes of Highway 218, turned around in the median, and then traveled back across the southbound lanes failing to yield to Twardowski’s vehicle. Twardowski’s truck struck VonWillard’s vehicle broadside. Twardowski’s vehicle, which was pulling a horse trailer, came to rest in the west ditch, while VonWillard’s vehicle came to rest in the median. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Four occupants were injured in the crash, all from Southaven, Mississippi. Rachel M. VonWillard, 45, Truly M. VonWillard, 21, and Skie L. VonWillard, 24, were all transported to Henry County Hospital by Henry County Ambulance. A five-year-old was also transported to Henry County Hospital by Henry County Ambulance.
All four injured parties were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, and the report indicates a seatbelt saved the life of each occupant. Multiple agencies assisted at the scene.
