A single-vehicle rollover wreck at the intersection of highways 141 and 169 east of Perry Monday afternoon sent a Jefferson man to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines by Air Ambulance.

Dallas County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Adam Infante reports, at just before 1 p.m. a 2002 Ford Escape SUV driven by 33-year-old Jesse Kniffin of Jefferson was travelling eastbound on Highway 141. According to a witness, the driver was travelling at a high rate of speed and struck the north guard wall on the overpass bridge of 169. The SUV then appeared to lose a tire and nearly hit another vehicle. The SUV rolled five or six times down the steep hill into the roadside ditch between the on-ramp and the highway, landing right-side-up. Kniffin was the only occupant of the vehicle and was trapped inside when emergency crews arrived. He was extricated by the Perry and Bouton fire departments using the Jaws of Life.

Kniffin suffered severe trauma to his hands and head, so the MercyOne Air Ambulance was called to the scene to take him to Des Moines for treatment. He was conscious and alert while being transported, and his injuries were not life-threatening. Kniffin was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the incident, and the airbags in the vehicle deployed. The SUV was totaled in the wreck. While emergency crews were on scene, eastbound 141 was reduced to one lane near the wreck, and the highway was closed off completely while the helicopter was on scene. The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office was also assisted by Dallas County Emergency Medical Services and the Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement. Kniffin was cited for no insurance and operation without registration.