(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) issued reports on recent accidents. Authorities say at around 6:10-p.m. Monday (Nov. 27), a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by 72-year-old Kenneth Alan Bahrke, of Panora, struck a deer on eastbound Highway 44, causing $2,500 damage. Bahrke was not hurt.

A single-vehicle rollover accident took place Nov. 25th, in Guthrie County. Officials say a 2008 Ford F250 pickup driven by 31-year-old Jared Kopaska, of Guthrie Center, was traveling north on Highway 44 at around 7:15-p.m., when the vehicle crossed a small bridge that was slick due to the weather conditions (It was snowing at the time). The pickup went out of control after crossing the bridge, and entered the east ditch where it ended-up on its side. Kopaska failed to notify law enforcement about the accident until the next day. The vehicle was discovered by a citizen, who notified law enforcement. While investigating the scene, law enforcement removed for safe keeping, firearms from the vehicle that had been left behind. The pickup sustained $5,000 damage. Kopaska was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

On the 24th,a 2022 GMC pickup driven by 56-year-old Michael Schwabe, of Breda, struck a deer on Highway 4. The vehicle sustained $6,000 damage, but was able to be driven from the scene. On Nov. 23rd, a 2023 Nissan Frontier pickup driven by 52-year-old Jason Plumb, of Harlan, struck a deer on Justice Road in Guthrie County. Plumb wasn’t hurt, but his pickup sustained $2,000 damage.  The previous day (11/22), a 2020 GMC SUV driven by 32-year-old Kegan Schultz, of Panora, struck a deer on Highway 4 and 170th Street, causing $5,000 damage.

And, the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Nov. 21st, a 2011 Chevy pickup driven by 53-year-old Jason Westfall, of Norwalk, was hit from behind by a 2001 Chevy truck driven by 17-year-old Carter Pugh, of Granger, at the intersection of Highway 4 and Chirma Road. The accident happened at around 8:43-a.m.  Authorities say Westfall was at or near a stop, and about to turn left, when his vehicle was rear-ended. Pugh was cited for Failure to Stop in a safe and sure distance. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000.