A man needed to be mechanically extracted from his vehicle after colliding with a semi Tuesday morning. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports at approximately 8:19 a.m., 22-year-old Zachary Neil Stephenson, of Polk City, was travelling in a 2014 Ford Focus westbound on Highway 141 just east of the intersection with Hickory Avenue between Coon Rapids and Bayard. A 2000 Freightliner tractor-trailer, driven by 42-year-old Donnie Lee Madison, of Ralston, was eastbound on the highway at the same time. Stephenson was reportedly fatigued, crossed into the opposite lane and struck the semi’s trailer. The driver-side of the car was crushed by the impact, and the Jaws of Life were used to extract Stephenson from the vehicle. He was transported to a Des Moines hospital by helicopter. Madison reported no major injuries. Damage to the Stephenson vehicle was estimated at $15,000, and the tractor-trailer damages were estimated at $10,000. An open container of alcohol was found in Stephenson’s car. An investigation into the accident is ongoing, and charges are pending. The Panora and Bayard Ambulance, Bayard Fire Department and Coon Rapids Police Department assisted at the scene.
