(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), provided an update for our earlier reports on a crane accident that took place last week. Officials say at around 3-p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8th, emergency responders were called to the area about one-quarter of a mile east of the intersection of Pella Road and 765th Street, on Pella Road, for a bridge collapsing under the load of a crane.

At the scene, a 2020 Tadano GX100 crane being operated by Rod Rogers, of Sergeant Bluff, was traveling West on Pella Road and began crossing County Bridge #123. As the 114,000 pound crane was crossing this bridge without a permit, the bridge suffered a partial structural collapse under the weight. The crane tipped to the North as the bridge collapsed, causing the crane to fall downward and to it’s side. Rogers suffered minor injuries. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said the crane is owned by Mammoet Crane Company, which was working with MidAmerican Energy to remove aged-out wind turbine blades. The Iowa DOT and Iowa DNR are both investigating different aspects of this accident. Pella Road remains closed between 765th St. and 780th St. until the bridge can be rebuilt.

Photos courtesy the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports also, a woman from Adair County was injured during a collision that occurred in Cass County on Sept. 3^rd. The crash happened at around 10:37-a.m., at the intersection of 780^th and 260^th Streets. Officials say a 2022 Chevy Equinox SUV driven by Lisa Henkenius, of Bridgewater, was traveling south on 780^th, and approaching 260^th, when her vehicle was struck on a driver’s side by a 2020 Dodge RAM pickup. Authorities say the driver of the pickup, Patrick Fisher, of Pearland, TX, had leftt a field entrance to travel westbound when its front passenger corner struck the SUV, causing the Equinox to leave the roadway and enter the West ditch.

Cumberland Rescue transported Henkenius to the hospital for medical attention. Her vehicle sustained approximately $10,000 worth of damage. Damage to the pickup was estimated to be $5,000. Fisher was cited for Failure to Yield.