United Group Insurance

Red Oak man cited following single-vehicle accident Tue. morning

News

August 7th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

A Red Oak man was cited following a single-vehicle accident this (Tuesday) morning, near Red Oak. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a SWITA (Southwest Iowa Transit) bus was legally stopped at a railroad crossing about one-quarter of a mile west of the intersection of Highways 48 and 34 outside of Red Oak, when a 2008 Dodge Caravan registered to JFSCO Engineering, approached from behind. The driver of the van, 62-year old Charles Peter Crawford, of Red Oak, was checking an e-mail on his cell phone, and did not see the SWITA bus, with its 4-way flashers on.

When Crawford finally noticed the bus, he took evasive action. The JSFCO van entered the north ditch and hit the railroad tracks before coming to rest in a field. The vehicle sustained $3,000 damage. There was no damage to the SWITA bus. The accident happened at around 9:45-a.m.

Officials say following an investigation, Crawford was cited for using an Electronic Communications Device While Driving.

(12:40-p.m. News)