An Accident in Appanoose County Injures Two Mahaska Residents

Iowa State Patrol Squad Car

Appanoose County, Iowa – Three persons were injured in a two vehicle accident on Highway J-18 and Resort Drive (Honey Creek Resort entrance) at 11:16 am Sunday.

Brandon L. Rash, age 19, of New Sharon was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital. In the Iowa State Patrol preliminary report, it states Rash was not wearing a seat belt.

Jennifer Watters, age 17, of Oskaloosa was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Centerville by ambulance. The report also indicates Watters was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Jerome A. Eichenberger, age 68, of Ankeny, was also transported to Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. The report states that Eichenberger was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

The preliminary report says that Eichenberger, who was driving a 2009 Chevrolet HHR prematurely turned into the driver’s side of the 1997 Chevrolet 1500 pickup that was driven by Rash, which was westbound on Highway J-18. The Chevrolet pickup went into the south ditch where it rolled, coming to a rest on its top facing northeast in the south ditch. The HHR came to rest in the Honey Creek Resort Drive.

The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.