A 77 year-old Des Moines woman is dead after a two vehicle accident in Guthrie County Thursday.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Nadine Ludwig was heading eastbound on 190th Road around 1:30pm Thursday. The report states Ludwig did not yield after a stop sign and was struck on the passenger side of her Mercury Sable by 26 year-old Angela Lovejoy of Coon Rapids, who was heading northbound on Chestnut Road. Ludwig’s vehicle continued into the northeast ditch while Lovejoy’s Pontiac Aztec came to rest on the roadway. 78 year-old Beverly Chase of West Des Moines was a passenger in Ludwig’s vehicle.
She was transported to the Audubon County Hospital where she was pronounced dead due to injuries sustained in the crash. The state patrol report says Ludwig’s life was saved by her seatbelt. She and Lovejoy, who was not belted in, were transported to the Audubon County Hospital via Audubon Rescue to be treated for injuries. The accident remains under investigation. No word yet on if charges will be filed.
Three car crashes in Iowa claimed the lives of seven people in a less than 24 hour period this week. It all occurred as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and area law enforcement are working to increase seat belt usage during a special enforcement mobilization that lasts through June 3rd. In 2010 alone, roughly 12,546 lives were saved in the U.S. because people were wearing their seatbelts.
As a reminder… seatbelt use is required in the state of Iowa. It’s a primary enforcement law – meaning you can be pulled over just for not wearing your seatbelt. A person convicted of violating the safety belts and harnesses law is guilty of a simple misdemeanor which will cost you more than $125 in fines and court costs.