Three people were injured and one was airlifted to an Omaha hospital following a three-vehicle accident at about 11 a.m. Monday north of Avoca. A 2002 Chevrolet Silverado, driven by 62-year-old Duane J. Carroll of Avoca, was stopped northbound at the intersection of Highway 59 and County Road F66 to make a left-hand turn. A 2004 Buick Rainier, driven by 32-year-old Joel T. Andersen of Harlan, was also northbound on 59, but failed to stop and rear-ended the Carroll truck. This pushed Carroll into the southbound lane and into the path of a 2005 Peterbilt semi-tractor trailer, driven by 43-year-old Timothy H. Ward of Underwood. The semi entered the west ditch and rolled onto its side while the Carroll pickup came to rest on the roadway. Carroll was airlifted to Bergan Mercy, Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha while Andersen and Ward were transported to the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan. The Shelby and Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Offices and Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement assisted the Iowa State Patrol at the scene.
