Area Driver Hurt, Then Charged, After Rolling his Pickup

Winneshiek County authorities have filed charges against an area man, after he rolled his vehicle into a ditch.

The incident happened just before 7:30pm Thursday (May 21), on 337th Street, in Hesper Township.

56 year old Nels Gavle of Decorah was eastbound, when he failed to negotiate a curve, and put his pickup in the ditch. The vehicle rolled twice, coming to rest on it's wheels.

Gavle had to be extricated from the truck by the Decorah Fire Department; he was then taken to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.

His 2004 Dodge Durango sustained $8,000 in damage.

Gavle is being charged with failure to maintain control, driving while license suspended, operating a non-registered vehicle, failure to provide proof of insurance, open container and failure to maintain or use a safety belt.