Sheriff’s officials in Cass County have released the name of the truck driver whose vehicle, equipped with a crane, rolled onto its side into a ditch Tuesday morning, south of Wiota. Authorities say 50-year old Wesley Nicholas, of Essex, was driving a 2017 Peterbilt truck with a crane attached, when the vehicle slipped onto the shoulder of Cass County Road N-28 (690^th Street), at around 9:45-a.m. Nicholas had reportedly been adjusting the cab’s heater control knobs as wasn’t paying attention to the road, when the accident happened just south of Lansing Road.

Cumberland, Massena and Wiota Fire and Rescue responded to the scene, along with Medivac Ambulance, the Cass County Emergency Management Agency, and Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies. Cumberland Fire Chief Sean South told KJAN News Nicholas had to be extricated from the cab by crews using the Jaws of Life (a mechanical extraction tool).  Nicholas was conscious and breathing, and talking with rescuers before he was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac.

Both lanes of N-28 were blocked for a time. Damage to the truck and crane, which was owned by Bruce Supplies of Red Oak,was estimated at $500,000. Authorities cited Nicholas Failure to Maintain Control.