One killed, another seriously injured..1989

MITCHELL, PETERSON, DENLY

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 7/22/2024 at 00:37:24

VB Co Reg
1989 FE 23

One killed, another seriously injured in accident

The investigation is continuing into an accident which took the life of one Bonaparte resident and seriously injured another.

Thomas Robert Mitchell, 29, of Bonaparte, died at the Van Buren County Memorial Hospital on Saturday, February 18, William Peterson, 29, also of Bonaparte, was listed in serious, but stable condition at the University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City.

According to an application for a search warrant for body specimen, served on Kevin Denly, 30, Bonaparte the accident occurred about 7:00 p.m.

(Denly refused chemical testing. He was forced, by the search warrant, to submit to a breath sample, which resulted in levels below the legal limit, according to the search warrant.)

In the Warrant, Denly states the truck he was driving got stuck. Mitchell and another person were passengers.

Denly further reports that he walked to his residence and called Bill Peterson to help in pulling the truck out of the ditch.

William Peterson was seen in Bonaparte approximately 3-5 minutes before the bodies were discovered, according to a witness, who requested not to be identified.

According to the witness, "Peterson went south to Tade station and turned east." The witness said he (the witness) took the river road, because it was closer to the vehicle in the ditch.

When the witness arrived at the scene, Mitchell was lying on his back in the ditch and Peterson was on the road. According to the witness, approximately 3-5 minutes had elapsed between the time Peterson was seen at his home and at the scene of the accident.

In the warrant, Denly stated that he had returned to the ditched vehicle and failed to find Mitchell. He further states that he turned around and drove back looking for Mitchell.

Denly said he saw Peterson's car, "stopped in the road. Only watching the car, he failed to see an individual kneeling down until too late to avoid hitting at least one individual."

In an interview with Randy Jones, Technical investigator for the Iowa Highway Patrol, Jones said that the "Denly vehicle upon trying to avoid the Peterson vehicle, went into the North Ditch, went across the road and sheered off a stop sign.

Although the investigation is not complete, Jones said he thought Denly struck both men with his vehicle.

According to Steve Reno, County Attorney, it will take time and possible re-enactment of the accident before officials determine what actually happened.

The Van Buren County Sheriff's office has had no further statements, other than one saying it was a two-car accident.

Source: "Scrapbook 1989 - 1990", Pg. 583,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA