Royal, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — The Iowa State Patrol says a Royal man sustained minor injuries when he attempted to pass a road grader Tuesday afternoon and struck the blade.
74-year-old Mark Wilms was Southbound on 180th avenue East of Royal near the 410th Street intersection around 3pm. The accident report says his vision was obscurred by dust and he misjudged how far out the blade extended into the travel portion of the road.
His 2023 Ford Bronco sustained an estimated 20 thousand dollars damage.
The state patrol says his use of a safety belt and deployment of the vehicle’s airbag quite possibly saved his life.
The road grader was operated by 53-year-old Darrel Santage – also of Royal. He was not injured and the grader was not damaged.
Wilms was charged with passing with insufficient visibility or distance.
