Douglas Carstensen 1960-1978

CARSTENSEN, AHRENDSEN, VANDAVER

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 3/23/2020 at 07:43:36

17 August 1978 - The Midland Times

A one-car crash one mile west of Olin early last Saturday morning left one man dead, and two people injured.

Douglas Dean Carstensen, 18, was thrown from a car and killed. Injured was the driver, David Wayne McCrea, 18 and another passenger, Sue Jo Soper, 16.

McCrea, of rural Olin, is hospitalized in St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Sue Soper was released from Anamosa hospital earlier this week. She suffered minor injuries.

The car, heading west away from Olin, went off the right side then skidded across the road and into the south ditch where it rolled and landed upright. All three passengers were thrown out. Pieces of the car and tools within were strewn throughout the grass for approximately 125 yards.

Mr. and Mrs. Herb Levsen woke to Soper's knock at approximately 1 a.m. They called police, ambulance and fire department. According to Herb Levsen, he and Allen Bixler went to the scene, leaving Soper in the Levsen home. Larry Rohlena, Anamosa, of the Iowa Highway Patrol answered the call.

The accident is still under investigation.

As of press time, McCrea was listed in fair condition at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Funeral services were held Tuesday for Carstensen.

He was born at Anamosa, May 29, 1960, the son of Norman and Myrna Vandaver Carstensen. He graduated from Olin High School in1978 and was employed on construction near Olin.

He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Lori, at home and Terri (Mrs. Brian Ahrendsen), Olin; and a brother, Donald at home. His grandmothers, Mrs. Hazel Carstensen, Olin and Mrs. Irene Vandaver, Oxford Junction, also survive him.