(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Two separate accidents in Guthrie County claimed the life of a Dallas Center man, and resulted in serious injuries to a woman from Guthrie Center. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 74-year-old Dennis Adrian Tatman, of Dallas Center, died during an accident that occurred at around 11-a.m. today (Wednesday), east of Panora.

A witness told a sheriff’s deputy that she was traveling eastbound on Highway 44 behind a 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup that was pulling a large utility trailer. The pickup was being driven by Dennis Tatman. The woman said she saw his vehicle quickly swerve into the south ditch and come to rest. Panora EMS administered life saving measures before Tatman was transported from the scene by Life Flight to Mercy in downtown Des Moines, where he died.

The pickup sustained an estimated $15,000 damage, and was declared a total loss.

Authorities say at around 12:19-p.m., Tuesday, a 2001 Chevy Blazer driven by 36-year-old Gwen Ellen Nickel, of Guthrie Center, was traveling west on 310th Street, when the SUV went out of control at the crest of a hill. The report said the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions.

The SUV entered the eastbound ditch and overturned, ejecting Nickel, who was not wearing a seat belt. She suffered suspected serious, incapacitating injuries, and was transported by Stuart EMS to Mercy Hospital.

The Blazer sustained $2,500 damage and was a total loss.