A man who struck a semi Tuesday morning near Bayard had to extracted from his vehicle by first responders.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office tells Raccoon Valley Radio that Zachary Neil Stephenson, of Polk City, was travelling westbound on Highway 141 in a 2014 Ford Focus just east of the intersection with Hickory Avenue between Coon Rapids and Bayard around 8:19am when he crossed the centerline and struck the trailer of a 2000 Freightliner tractor-trailer, driven by 42-year-old Donnie Lee Madison, of Ralston.
The driver-side of the car was crushed by the impact, and the Jaws of Life had to be used to get Stephenson out of the vehicle. He was transported to a Des Moines hospital by helicopter. Madison had no major injuries. An open container of alcohol was found in Stephenson’s car. An investigation into the accident is ongoing, and charges are pending.
The Panora and Bayard Ambulance, Bayard Fire Department and Coon Rapids Police Department assisted at the scene.