TELEGRAPH FILE PHOTO

CLUTIER – A member of the Clutier Fire Department was injured last month when a loaded tanker truck blew a tire and subsequently rolled into the ditch while en route to a grass fire east of town.

On Saturday, March 22, at 5:40 p.m., the Tama County Sheriff’s Department responded to an accident at the intersection of V Avenue and Highway E-36 east of Clutier. According to the crash report, Gary Pearson, 83, of Clutier was driving a loaded 1980 red Ford fire truck tanker eastbound on E-36 and approaching the intersection with V Ave. — where he planned to turn north — while responding to an out-of-control field fire.

“Prior to reaching its turn [the fire truck] experienced a blowout to the drivers side rear tire,” the crash report states. “[Pearson] over corrected the vehicle causing the unit to cross the center line in a drift and roll over. The unit came to rest on the drivers side” in the northeast ditch.

Prior to Deputy Jacob Murphy’s arrival, Pearson – who was wearing his seatbelt – was pulled from the truck by first responders through the windshield. He was subsequently transported by Dysart Ambulance to Allen Hospital in Waterloo for minor injuries. The truck was a total loss.

According to previous reporting by the Telegraph, the fire was located south of 240th Street between V and W Avenues. Area farmers had been conducting a controlled burn along the meandering East Branch Salt Creek when it became too much for them, per Dysart Fire Chief Tim Brown whose department provided mutual aid. Pearson sustained ‘some scratches and bruises’ and required stitches during later treatment at the hospital.

“It should be noted that the original skid marks occur well within the intersection of V Ave and E36,” the crash report continued, “which would be the turn [the fire truck] was attempting to navigate prior to blowing a tire.”