Sioux City Journal

North Dakota woman dies in I-29 accident

By Earl Horlyk, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008

A Fargo, N.D., woman was killed and two others injured in a collision between a car and a semi truck in Monona County, Iowa, Saturday night, the Iowa State Patrol reported.

Investigators reported that the semi driven by William Widener, 43, Sylvania, Ga., was northbound on Interstate 29 at the 122 mile marker when it was rear-ended by a 2008 Kia driven by Joshua Orr, 26, Fargo.

Orr's vehicle came to a rest in the median while the semi was brought to a controlled stop on the northbound shoulder, according to a report released on Sunday.

A front passenger in Orr's vehicle, Karen Olson, 26, was killed in the accident. Orr was taken by Sloan Ambulance to Mercy Medical Center -- Sioux City where he was treated and released.

Another passenger in Orr's car, a 14-year-old female from Marcus, Iowa, whose name was not released, was admitted into Mercy Medical Center after being transported by Sloan Ambulance.

Widener was not injured in the accident, the state patrol said.

Story Comments

a mom wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:40 AM:

" are you serious GERI some EMT wouldnt help because she had shorts & sandals & she was a EMT on the ambulance HELLO get rid of that EMT immediately Heaven forbid its ever me in an accident I dont want that lady showing up & I am doubting anyone else does either "

................ wrote on Aug 29, 2008 8:43 AM:

" hey slow to help.... if you were "behind" this accident you would have been northbound so how is it that you come upon the onawa exit (which is south and only about 10 miles from the accident) 30 minutes later??? ... i think you're just trying to make yourself feel special and say that you were there and saw the scene and screwed up your lie so much that almost everyone knows you're full of crap ... as a volunteer firefighter i feel that you've not only offended the agencies responding but agencies from everywhere ... volunteers don't HAVE to respond but we do because we like to help people ... no matter who they are, we help them when they need it ... we drop what we're doing at a moments notice ... whether it be spending time with our friends and family or sleeping at 3 a.m. you can depend on us for help 24/7 ... watch your mouth!! "

paramedic wrote on Aug 26, 2008 3:35 PM:

" as a burgess paramedic (one) we are paid professionals, (two) cells calls sometime are picked up by towers and sent to different counties,,our response time is less than 3 minites on average. we put our patients before our own safety..how dare you judge us the way you did, come and try doing what we do.. and then make a fair judgement.... and when you need help who shows up hmmmmm "

katie wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:44 PM:

" do you ever consider the territory these officers have to patrol. your counties all have certain budgets that get cut all the time.. counties are huge with one deputy & even huger for state patrol on these hiways... they could have been on the eastern side of the counties when the call came in. THINK BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR DIAHREA MOUTH!!! "

to whos your hero wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:38 PM:

" I owe you an apology. I rechecked the logistics and you are absolutely correct. So now I've not only offended people I have made a total fool of myself. Goes to show how upsetting something like this is. So very sorry - slow to help. "