Authorities unravel facts...1989

MITCHELL, DENLY, PETERSON, SETH

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/21/2024 at 13:49:44

1989

Authorities unravel facts in fatal accident

The Van Buren County Sheriff's office and Van Buren County Attorney Steve Reno have issued a joint statement concerning a February 18 accident which claimed the life of a 29-year-old rural Bonaparte man and seriously injured another.

The accident occurred three miles southeast of Bonaparte on a gravel road.

According to the statement, on Saturday evening, February 18, at approximately 7 p.m. a vehicle driven by Kevin R. Denly, rural Bonaparte, struck Thomas Mitchell and William Peterson, fatally injuring Mitchell. Peterson remains in serious condition at the University Hospital in Iowa City.

The statement says alcohol appears to have been a major factor in the incident. Both victims and Denly had been drinking together prior to the accident. While returning to the Denly residence north of Farmington, the Mitchell vehicle slid into a ditch. Efforts to free the pickup truck were futile and Denly, Mitchell and a third passenger, Gary Seth of rural Farmington, began walking to the Denly residence to get additional equipment to remove the truck for the ditch.

Seth arrived at the residence well ahead of Mitchell and Denly, took Denly's jeep and returned to pick up his friends. It was dark and Seth did not see Denly and Mitchell in a ditch west of the ditched pickup. Seth then went to Bonaparte seeking help.

Meanwhile, Mitchell had tired from the walk and sat down to rest. Denly then went alone to his residence and called Peterson for assistance. He (Denly) then drove his 4-wheel drive pickup back toward Mitchell to pick him up. Again Mitchell was in the ditch and Denly did not see him. Dely drove to the ditched pickup and, still not seeing Mitchell, turned around to retrace his tracks.

Meanwhile, Peterson had arrived and found Mitchell. As Peterson left his car to go to Mitchell, Denly arrived at their location. Unable to stop, Denly struck Peterson who was in the middle of the road and Mitchell who was at the edge of the road.

Denly, knowing he had struck Peterson, stopped and examined both Peterson and Mitchell for injuries, then drove to the Jim Fett residence where an ambulance was made. The Farmington EMTs responded and transported both Mitchell and Peterson to Van Buren County Memorial Hospital where Mitchell was pronounced dead. Peterson was flown by air ambulance to University Hospitals in Iowa city where he remains in serious but stable condition.

To date, no arrests have been made. Authorities say charges are pending as the accident remains under investigation by the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department and the Iowa State Patrol.

(**#4 of 4)

Source: "Scrapbook 1989 - 1990", Pg. 580,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA