Austin Stokes Obituary, Death – Authorities in Northwest Iowa are investigating a serious three-vehicle crash that left one woman dead and sent another person to the hospital. The incident occurred late Friday afternoon, Nov. 21, and involved a pickup truck and two parked vehicles in rural Palo Alto County. Officials say the collision took place around 5:20 p.m. just west of the intersection of 440th Street and 470th Avenue, an area located between the communities of Emmetsburg and Mallard.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash began when a Ram 1500 pickup truck traveling eastbound on 440th Street struck a parked vehicle along the roadway. After hitting the stationary vehicle, the pickup veered off the road and rolled. The driver of the Ram truck was identified as 19-year-old Austin Stokes of Mallard. The crash report noted that Stokes complained of pain following the incident and later went to a medical facility for evaluation. Authorities indicated that he did not require an ambulance to get to the hospital.
The two other vehicles involved in the crash were parked at the time—a four-door sedan and a minivan. Both were heavily damaged in the impact and were declared total losses. The Iowa State Patrol’s report suggests that at least one of the parked vehicles may have been disabled before the crash, though it does not offer further explanation regarding its condition or why it was stopped near the roadway.
Investigators determined that no one was inside the minivan when the collision happened. However, there was one person inside the car. The passenger, identified as 64-year-old Carol Harding, suffered serious and incapacitating injuries. Emergency responders arranged for Harding to be airlifted to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, so she could receive specialized medical care.
A pedestrian was also injured in the incident. According to the crash report, 35-year-old Jamee Weber of West Bend was standing on the road’s shoulder when the crash occurred. The report does not clarify how she was struck or the exact circumstances that placed her in harm’s way. Weber was taken to a medical facility in Palo Alto County, where she was later pronounced dead as a result of her injuries. Officials have not released additional background on her activities prior to the collision.
All three vehicles involved—the pickup truck, the sedan, and the minivan—were significantly damaged. The Iowa State Patrol noted that the extent of the damage made all of them total losses. Authorities have not indicated whether weather conditions, visibility, or road surface issues contributed to the crash, and no citations were listed in the report. The absence of citations suggests the investigation is continuing and that troopers are still working to understand the full chain of events.
The area where the crash took place is known for low traffic volumes and stretches of rural roadway that are common in Northwest Iowa. Residents familiar with the region say the roads can be challenging at dusk, especially on narrow shoulders where disabled or parked vehicles may be present.
Officials continue to review the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the sequence of impacts and the conditions that led to both the pedestrian and the parked vehicle occupants being in the path of the crash. No further details have been released regarding the status of the investigation.
The Iowa State Patrol encourages anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has additional information to reach out to local authorities as they work to piece together exactly what happened on the evening of Nov. 21.
