Sheriff's deputies respond to two serious crashes over weekend
Jasper County deputies responded to two major motor vehicle crashes over the weekend, one of which resulted in the death of the driver.
According to an accident report filed by Deputy Jeremy Dittmer, he was called to county blacktop F70 west of Monroe to respond to an accident in which three Marion County teens were involved. That portion of roadway is also known as Republic Avenue West, according to a sheriff's office spokeswoman.
The deputy's report stated Taylor J. Reed, 18, of Otley was driving a 2007 Honda Civic at a high rate of speed when he lost control, causing the vehicle to roll over three times before coming to rest in the ditch. Brandon L. Kuiper, 18, of Knoxville, a passenger in the vehicle, walked to a nearby house and called 911 at 4:42 a.m. to report the accident.
According to Dittmer's report, Kuiper alleged that Reed had consumed "four to five shots of Jagermeister" while driving the car at a speed of more than 100 mph at the time of the crash. Kuiper, who had been wearing his seat belt, also admitted to drinking "a few beers" prior to crash and tested above the legal limit at 0.089 blood-alcohol content on a field breath test.
The deputy's report stated another passenger, Lloyd J. Swank, 19, of Otley, appeared to have been ejected from the vehicle out the rear hatch window. Based on Kuiper's report and findings at the scene, it has been suggested Reed crawled out of the vehicle and waited with Swank in the ditch for help to arrive.
An empty bottle of Jagermeister and two cans of Bud Light beer, one of which was unopened, were found at the scene.
Swank was transported to Mercy Medical Center by MercyOne helicopter. As of Monday evening he was listed in critical condition. Reed also was transported to Mercy via Monroe ambulance, where he is listed in good condition. Kuiper was transported to an undisclosed area hospital via Prairie City ambulance.
No charges have been filed. The crash remains under investigation.
Approximately eight and a half hours later, Deputy Brad Van Zante responded to a call just south of the Kellogg exit on Interstate Highway 80 on South 44th Avenue East near county blacktop T22. Upon arrival, he discovered the driver, Daniel K. Dresen, 25, of Racine, Wis., deceased in his overturned car.
According to the deputy's report, Dresen was traveling westbound in a 2008 Nissan Altima at a high rate of speed when he lost control and left the roadway on the north side just prior to the bridge over Prairie Creek. The vehicle clipped a stop sign and was catapulted across the creek, landing on the west bank before rolling onto its top.
Van Zante reported it appeared Dresen had run the stop sign at South 44th Avenue East and T22 to get the necessary speed to jump the creek. A time of the accident could not be assertained but is believed to have happened sometime between 8 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.
