(Creston, Iowa) – Authorities in Union County say one-person was injured in one of two separate accidents last week. A passenger in a 1999 Ford Ranger  pickup truck was injured, when the 15-year-old male driver from Jefferson lost control of the vehicle while swerving to avoid a deer in the road. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the vehicle was traveling north on 240th Street (a gravel road) at around 10:30-a.m., Friday, when the accident occurred while the pickup was rounding a curve.

The vehicle left the road, entered the north ditch and struck an embankment before it overturned and came to rest on its top. The passenger, 29-year-old Ryan Mahurin, of Jefferson, complained of pain and possible injury. He was transported by ambulance to the Creston Hospital. The driver was not hurt, and no citations were issued.

The Creston Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision Wednesday afternoon on Highway 34 east near S. Maple Street. Authorities say a 2019 Ford SUV driven by 29-year-old Ridge Casteel, of Creston, was stopped behind a vehicle turning north in the Creston Dairy Queen, when the vehicle was hit from behind by a 2008 Chrysler van that driven by 24-year-old Cynthia Theis, of Creston. Police said Theis admitted she wasn’t paying attention before her van hit the SUV.

She said also, her ears were ringing due to noise from the air bags being deployed. She refused medical attention at the scene, but reported later she was going to the hospital to be checked out for neck pain. Authorities said Casteel was uninjured in the crash, that happened at around 2:40-p.m., Wednesday.  No citations were issued.