Bishop, James Franklin "Jim" Jr. 1962-2005

BISHOP, STOUT, DENISON, MEISLAHN, PETERSON

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 2/15/2005 at 12:55:56

Libertyville man killed in accident
February 14, 2005

A Libertyville man was killed and his family members were injured in a three-vehicle accident at 9:15 a.m. Friday in the 1700 block of Highway 163, about five miles west of Oskaloosa, in Mahaska County.

James "Jim" Franklin Bishop Jr., age 42, was killed.

His wife, 45-year-old Jeanna Bishop, and their children, James, 20, Jordan, 17, and Jillian, 15, were injured.

According to the Iowa State Patrol's preliminary accident report, the Bishops' 2002 Ford van was westbound in the left lane of Highway 163. A 1992 Ford dump truck driven by Robert De Vern Stout, 52 of New Sharon, drove north and made a left turn into the left lane of the highway. Jim Bishop attempted to drive into the right lane, but the front driver side of his van struck the right rear corner of the dump truck. The van slid sideways and was struck on the driver's side by a 1999 Kenworth tractor-trailer, owned by RCM Trucking of Worthington, Minn., and driven by Raymond Christopher Denison, 66, of Worthington. Trooper Brian Meislahn, who is investigating the accident, said the van did not roll.

The dump truck then drove onto the median, back onto the roadway and stopped on Highland Avenue. The Bishops' van came to a stop facing west in the right lane, and Jim Bishop was ejected onto the roadway. Meislahn said Jim Bishop was not wearing a seatbelt. The semitrailer drove onto the north shoulder, back onto the roadway, then jack-knifed and stopped in the north ditch.

Jim and Jordan Bishop were transported by Pella Ambulance to Pella Regional Health Center. Jordan Bishop was then transferred to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, where he was listed in fair condition this morning. He also was scheduled for surgery this morning, but no details were available. The Rev. Dave Peterson, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church, was with the family in Des Moines today.

According to the Iowa State Patrol report Mahaska County Ambulance transported Jeanna, James and Jillian Bishop to Mahaska Health Partners in Oskaloosa. But following its policy, Mahaska Health Partners' emergency room personnel would not release any information about those patients.

Family friends have reported Jeanna Bishop was released from Mahaska Health Partners, while James and Jillian were held overnight for observation, and then released.

For the complete story, read the Feb. 14 Fairfield Ledger.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005