(Oakland) An Oakland woman died following a collision involving a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) on December 26th.
According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched at 4:31 p.m. to 570 North Highway Street in response to an accident involving a UTV and a pedestrian. Upon arrival, deputies found the UTV on the sidewalk and the victim, identified as 83-year-old Sandra Madron, lying on her left side. An Oakland Rescue member was providing assistance at the scene. Deputies reported that Madron had a pulse but was experiencing very shallow breathing.
The driver of the UTV, identified as 84-year-old Gene Fritz, stated to deputies that he was heading home and often drove his UTV on the sidewalk because he can’t see well and he, “drives very slow”. When asked where he was coming from he said that he had just left the bar and had two beers. He stated that he didn’t see Sandra Madron until he hit her and “she must have been wearing dark clothing”.
When the ambulance arrived, Madron stopped breathing, and CPR was initiated. She was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs with CPR in progress.
Deputies conducted a traffic investigation and asked Fritz to undergo field sobriety tests due to his admission of drinking alcohol and being involved in the accident. Fritz complied with the tests and a preliminary breath test (PBT). Deputies also discovered that Fritz did not have a valid driver’s license and that the UTV was not registered for roadway use.
Fritz was released to his son, while the UTV was impounded.
At approximately 6:05 p.m., deputies contacted Mercy Hospital and were informed that Sandra Madron had succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, and no citations or charges have been issued at this time.
