Two Injured In Pick-up, Semi Crash Near La Porte City

An accident in southern Black Hawk County involving a pick-up and semi tractor-trailor sent both drivers to the hospital Thursday morning (April 21, 2016).

The crash occurred around 7 a.m. on U.S. Highway 218, just south of La Porte City. Black Hawk County sheriff's officials said when deputies arrived at the scene, they found a pick-up with heavy damage on the passenger side and a semi tractor-trailer with heavy front end damage in the east ditch.

Patrol Sergeant Tom Nichols said a preliminary investigation has revealed that the driver of a southbound pickup -- Jayson Ashenbrenner, 18, of Dysart -- lost control while re-entering the highway, after the vehicle's right-side wheels left the roadway and entered a ditch. The pick-up then crossed into the path of the northbound semi, driven by Joseph Baldridge, 52, of Vinton.

Sheriff's officials said both drivers suffered non-life threatening injuries. Ashenbrenner was transported to a nearby hospital in Waterloo, while Baldrige was taken to the hospital in Vinton. Their conditions have not been released.