Decorah, Iowa (October 31, 2025) — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a two-vehicle collision Thursday afternoon in Winneshiek County as 87-year-old Mary Rausch of Fort Atkinson. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred around 2:05 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 52 and Town Line Road, just south of Decorah.
Incident Details: Investigators reported that a semi-truck traveling south on Highway 52 failed to stop at a posted sign and collided with a van entering the intersection. The impact struck the driver’s side of the semi, causing severe damage to both vehicles. Emergency responders transported the van’s driver to Winneshiek Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Tragically, Rausch, who was a passenger in the van, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The semi-truck driver was not reported injured. Both vehicles were removed from the roadway as officials worked several hours to clear debris and document the scene.
Investigation: The Iowa State Patrol continues to investigate the collision, with assistance from the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office. Preliminary findings indicate that failure to stop at a stop sign was the key contributing factor. Investigators are expected to review roadway visibility, signage placement, and potential driver distraction to determine whether additional citations or charges are warranted. They’ll also review driver logs, inspection records, and witness statements.
Under Iowa traffic law, all motorists must come to a full stop at posted intersections and yield the right-of-way to oncoming vehicles. Violations of these requirements can constitute negligence if they directly result in injury or death.
Legal Considerations: Due to their size and force of impact, commercial truck collisions can have devastating outcomes. In cases like this, liability may extend beyond the truck driver to the trucking company if factors such as inadequate training, fatigue, or maintenance failures contributed to the crash.
The family of Mary Rausch may have grounds to pursue a wrongful death action to recover damages for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering. The injured driver may also have grounds to file a personal injury claim to recover lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
My heartfelt condolences go out to the Rause family as they grieve this tragic and preventable loss. I also wish the injured driver a speedy and complete recovery.
Source: KCRG