2 Oelwein Residents Hospitalized after Motorcycle Hit a Deer

Two Oelwein residents had to be airlifted to a LaCrosse hospital, after their motorcycle collided with a deer Saturday afternoon (June 15).

Just before 1:30pm, the Fayette County Sheriff received a 911 call, reporting that a motorcycle had hit a deer on Cedar Road, north of Wadena.

Officers determined that a 2011 Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by 58 year old Michael Rettinger of Oelwein, was northbound when a deer entered the roadway, where it was struck by the bike.

A passenger, 56 year old Sharon Kime-Rettinger of Oelwein, was thrown off the motorcycle, onto the shoulder of the road. Michael was able to hold on, but the bike entered the ditch where it struck a tree; he was thrown off as the bike left the road.

Both of the victims were airlifted to Gunderson-Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin; a condition report was not available.

The Fayette County Sheriff was assisted by the Wadena Fire Department and First Responders, Gunderson Air, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Air Care, the Iowa DNR, and Tri-state Ambulance.

The Fayette County Sheriff also responded to a car/deer accident early Monday morning (June 17).

The sheriff was notified shortly after 5am, of the accident on Highway 150, 3 miles south of Fayette. 24 year old Jay Bruce of Fayette, was driving south, when he struck a deer that wandered out onto the road.

No one was injured, but his 2013 Ford Taurus had about $1500 in damage.