United Group Insurance

Names released in fatal northern Iowa crash

News

January 28th, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Wellsburg, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol has released the names of the four people (1 adult and three children) who died and nine others (Most of whom are from Dehli, Iowa) who were injured during a rollover accident involving a van, Friday morning in northern Iowa. Authorities had said previously, the 15 passenger van, a 2002 Chevy Express, went out of control on the 100% snow/ice covered roads at around 6:49-a.m, and crashed near Wellsburg.

The incident happened as the van was heading westbound on US Highway 20.  The driver of the van, 33-year-old Sara E. Werner, of Hopkinton (IA), lost control of the vehicle, which entered the median and rolled. Four people were ejected from the van, which came to rest in the eastbound lanes of Highway 20. None of the vehicle’s occupants were wearing a seat belt, and the children were not in a child restraint seat.

The Patrol identified those who died as: 22-year-old Ervin J. Borntreger, 1-year old Marlin Borntreger, 4-year-old Emma Borntreger, and 2-year-old Rebecca Borntreger, all of Dehli (IA).

Those injured were identified as:

  • 21-year Edna Borntreger, 1-year-old Jacob Borntreger, 29-year-old Mary Herschberger, 26-year-old Jacob “Jake” Herschberger; 27-year-old Mahlon Borntreger, 25-year-old Fannie Borntreger, 3-year-old Ervin Borntreger, 1-year-old Joseph Borntreger, all of Dehli.
  • 30-year-old Almer Yoder, of Hopkinton.

The crash is still under investigation.