Cole Lantz Obituary, Death; – A multi-vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 69 in Hamilton County on Friday morning resulted in one fatality and two injuries.
The incident involved three vehicles, including a semi-trailer transporting anhydrous ammonia, which did not leak during the accident. A fourth vehicle was found in a ditch along the roadside.
The deceased was identified as 27-year-old Cole Lantz from Williams. The injured individuals were Carlos Vielman Castillo, 51, from Postville, and Jilmer Vielman Monroy, 28, from Belmond. Both were transported to Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City for treatment.
The accident occurred at 6:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 69 near 180th Street. According to Lt. Aaron Smidt of the Iowa State Patrol, three vehicles were traveling in a northbound line prior to the crash. Lantz, driving the second vehicle, attempted to overtake the first vehicle by moving into the southbound lane. This maneuver resulted in a head-on collision with a southbound 2011 Ram 2500 pickup driven by Castillo, with Monroy as a passenger.
Smidt noted that the driver of the first vehicle in the northbound line continued onward, seemingly unaware of the incident. The driver of the third vehicle took evasive measures to avoid the collision, ending up in a ditch but remaining unharmed.
The semi-trailer, a 2024 Freightliner carrying anhydrous ammonia, was driven by 32-year-old Justin Norton from Belmond. He swerved to the center of the highway to avoid the crash, resulting in the front passenger side of his truck making contact with the damaged pickup. Fortunately, Norton sustained no injuries, and there was no release of anhydrous ammonia.
