POLK COUNTY, IA (November 11, 2025) — A 44-year-old cyclist died Thursday morning when a dump truck struck her while she was crossing a road along the High Trestle Trail east of Polk City. Authorities identified the victim as Courtney R. Petersen of Ankeny.
Accident Details: Lt. Mark Chance, Public Information Officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, said the collision occurred between 10:00 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. on NW 44th Street. Petersen was traveling southeast on the High Trestle Trail on a recumbent tricycle when she crossed NW 44th Street.
The dump truck, which was hauling a trailer, was traveling southbound on NW 44th Street between NW 126th Avenue and NW 118th Avenue at the time of the collision. The truck struck Petersen as she crossed the road. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the dump truck remained on scene and is cooperating with the investigation. The area where the crash took place is about two miles from the Polk City center.
Investigation: The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances of the collision. Traffic investigators with the PCSO examined the scene, and detectives interviewed witnesses who may have seen the crash.
Lt. Chance said NW 44th Street was closed between NW 118th Avenue and NW 126th Avenue until around 3:00 p.m. while investigators documented the scene and gathered evidence. The crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine how the collision occurred at the trail crossing.
Legal Considerations: Collisions between large commercial vehicles and cyclists can result in catastrophic injuries due to the size and weight difference between the two. When a cyclist is struck while crossing a roadway on a designated trail, investigators examine whether the crossing had adequate signage, whether the driver had sufficient visibility, and whether the cyclist had the right-of-way.
Trail crossings at roadways require both drivers and cyclists to exercise caution. Drivers must watch for trail users crossing the road, while cyclists must ensure vehicles have time to stop before entering the roadway. Determining liability in these cases depends on understanding who had the right-of-way and whether either party could have prevented the collision.
Families who lose a loved one in a bicycle-truck collision can pursue wrongful death claims to recover damages for funeral expenses, medical costs, and the loss of future income and companionship. These claims help families address the financial burden left behind by the sudden loss.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Courtney R. Petersen as they grieve this tragic loss.
Source: KCCI