Worthington man killed in Monday morning crash near Sheldon, Iowa

Julie Buntjer, The Daily Globe, Worthington, Minn.
·1 min read

Oct. 18—SHELDON, Iowa. — A 44-year-old Worthington man is dead and three 17-year-old juveniles were seriously injured in a crash reported at 6:22 a.m. Monday on Iowa 18 at Marsh Avenue, near Sheldon.

Samuel Garcia Ruiz was a backseat passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Focus driven by Manuel Garcia Calachij, 17, of Worthington, that reportedly crossed the center line on Iowa 18, striking a 2016 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer head-on. The semi then jack-knifed across both lanes of traffic. The information was provided by the Iowa State Patrol.

All four occupants of the Ford Focus were entrapped in the vehicle. The driver is reportedly in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. Two 17-year-old female passengers were reportedly in serious condition. Names of the female passengers were not released by the Iowa State Patrol.

Ruiz was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and was transported to the Sheldon Hospital. One female passenger wore a seatbelt, while the other did not. Both females were also transported to the Sheldon Hospital by the Boyden-Sheldon EMS.

The driver of the Peterbilt semi was Kris Marra, 54, of Sioux Center, Iowa. Marra was towing a Wilson grain trailer and was not listed as having received any injuries.