A motorist fled the scene of a rollover accident occurring about three miles south of Madrid on Highway 17 Saturday morning.
Jacob Roberts, 22, of Madrid flipped his 2004 white Chevrolet Impala into a creek southwest of the intersection of Iowa Highway 17 and Zook Spur Road about 7:45 a.m.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tom Peterson said Roberts left his partially submerged vehicle and was found in a field about a mile away from the wreck and taken into custody without incident.
A person claiming to be an eyewitness to the incident said the driver was “doing at least 100 mph and then tried to pass the people in front of me on the shoulder and lost control of his car and barrel rolled about five times before landing” in the creek.
Peterson confirmed that “witnesses did describe his driving as being reckless prior to the crash.” He also confirmed a witness’ statement that after crashing, the driver left the overturned vehicle and “took off barefooted down the gravel road and then through a plowed cornfield.”
“What I can tell you is the driver did leave the scene,” Peterson said. “He was located not too long after, I’m guessing within about 15 or 20 minutes after, about a mile from the location.”
Roberts was treated at the scene by Dallas County EMS for what appeared to be hypothermia and later transported to Mercy Medical Center, Peterson said. An air ambulance was initially dispatched to the incident but later disregarded, he said.
Peterson said Roberts was found to be driving under suspension at the time of the mishap, and other charges are pending in the ongoing investigation. Roberts was not arrested at the scene.
“He needed medical treatment, which supersedes his going to jail at that point,” Peterson said. “We can always follow up and figure out what’s going on. His medical attention is the most important.”
The Polk County Sheriff’s office, Dallas County Sheriff’s office, Polk City Fire and Rescue, Polk City EMS and Dallas County EMS responded to the incident.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
