Area Man Seriously Hurt in New Years Rollover

A Northeast Iowa man is being treated for serious injuries from a New Years Eve rollover accident.

Just before 4pm Dec. 31st, deputies were called to the area of Nature Road and Pilot road, south of St. Lucas, where a driver was trapped in his vehicle.

The driver, identified as 88 year old Norbert Kuennen of St. Lucas, was traveling east when his SUV lost traction. Kuennen lost control, and the vehicle went into the ditch, where it traveled a significant distance before rolling over, landing upside down.

Emergency workers freed Kuennen from the vehicle; he was initially taken to the West Union hospital, then transferred to Allen Hospital in Waterloo, with serious injuries.

His 2005 Mercury Mariner was a total loss.

The Fayette County Sheriff was assisted at the scene by fire departments from Waucoma, St. Lucas, and West Union, as well as the Tri-State Ambulance.

The accident is still under investigation.