A Glidden man died Wednesday on Iowa Highway 4 in Greene County when the van he was driving crossed the center line and struck the driver’s side of an oncoming semi-tractor trailer.
Wesley H. Bunnell, 71, of Glidden was traveling northbound on Iowa Highway 4 approaching 290th Street south of Jefferson about 12:20 p.m. in a 2017 Chevrolet Express van, and a 2010 Peterbilt 389 driven by Arthur Vanderwaal, 21, of Hull “had just turned southbound onto Highway 4 from 290th Street,” according to a report released by the Iowa State Patrol (ISP).
The ISP said that “for reasons unknown,” Bunnell’s van “crossed the center line and slowly drifted into the southbound lane.”
The report said Vanderwaal noticed the van “was traveling in his lane and attempted to avoid hitting him by taking the southbound shoulder,” where Bunnell’s vehicle struck the semi-tractor trailer “on the driver’s side.”
Bunnell was wearing a seatbelt, according to the report, but was killed in the collision. He was transported from the scene by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office.
The incident is under investigation by the ISP.
The ISP was assisted by the Greene County Sheriff’s office, Iowa Department of Transportation and the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department.
