Oskaloosa, IA (January 21, 2026) – Martin Neely (49), Brooke Thurman (33), Claira Thurman (48), Jordan Thurman (26), and two unnamed juveniles were injured in a multi-vehicle accident that occurred on Wednesday in Oskaloosa.
Incident Details: Traffic records indicate that the accident occurred near the 2500 block of Highway 92 east of Oskaloosa.
A Ford Escape driven by an unnamed 15-year-old was stationary on the highway facing eastbound. The driver of the Escape was attempting to make a left-hand turn into a driveway when a semi-truck rear-ended them. The semi-truck was driven by Neely.
The crash caused the Escape to cross the center line, which led to a head-on collision with a Ford Edge traveling westbound. The Ford Edge was driven by Brooke Thurman.
Six people were injured in the collisions, and all were transported to Mahasa Health by ambulance. All six people were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
Investigation: Authorities are continuing to investigate the multi-vehicle crash on Highway 92 east of Oskaloosa that injured six people. Investigators will examine how the Ford Escape, which was reportedly stopped while attempting a left-hand turn into a driveway, was rear-ended by a semi-truck and then pushed across the center line into oncoming traffic.
Law enforcement will likely review physical evidence from the scene, including vehicle damage, debris patterns, skid marks, and final vehicle positions to reconstruct the sequence of impacts. They will likely also evaluate speed, following distance, visibility, and driver attentiveness to determine whether any traffic violations contributed to the rear-end collision and resulting head-on crash.
Legal Considerations: Multi-vehicle crashes like this often raise complex liability questions because one initial impact can trigger additional collisions. If investigators determine the semi-truck driver failed to maintain a safe following distance or was driving too fast to stop safely, that driver (and potentially the trucking company) may be held responsible for the chain reaction and resulting injuries. At the same time, investigators may also consider whether the Ford Escape was stopped or turning in a safe and lawful manner and whether proper signals and precautions were used.
Those injured in the crash may have personal injury claims to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future treatment needs. Because a commercial truck was involved, additional insurance coverage may also be available compared to a standard passenger-vehicle collision.
I hope everyone injured in this crash makes a full and steady recovery.
Source: KOBE