A witness says it appears as if a driver was asleep at the wheel prior to an accident at the intersection of U.S. Highways 30 and 71 in Carroll Wednesday afternoon. At approximately 12:57 p.m. a FedEx semi-tractor trailer, driven by 49-year-old Gordon Michael Woods of Ankeny, was southbound on Highway 71 and stopped at the light at Highway 30. As he proceeded through the intersection, he spotted an eastbound 1991 Chevrolet S10 pickup, driven by 80-year-old Larry R. Nielsen of Carroll, that did not appear as if it was going to stop. The pickup went into the intersection and struck the mid-rear left side of the trailer. During an initial conversation, Nielsen told officers he did not recall what had happened, then later stated he remembers the light being green and that he did not see any traffic in the intersection. Nielsen was very disoriented and was transported to St. Anthony Regional Hospital by Carroll County Emergency Medical Services for evaluation. An independent witness told authorities that the FedEx truck had a green light and they watched as the Nielsen vehicle approached, but did not slow down before entering the intersection. There is a possibility that the accident could be medically related. Woods was not injured, but there was an estimated $500 in damage to the trailer and $2,500 to the S10 pickup.
