Crash snaps pole, brings down County Home Road warning light

ROBINS - A two-car collision on County Home Road snapped off a wooden pole and brought down warning lights across a notorious intersection Friday.

Minor injuries were reported in the accident, which happened around 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of C Avenue near Robins. A woman was northbound in a white car when she failed to yield at the stop sign, authorities said.

Alex Van Praag, 23, of Marion, said he was westbound on County Home Road and could not avoid the white car that rolled slowly into his path. Both cars went into the northwest ditch, where they toppled a stop sign and ran through wires anchoring a utility pole.

Red flashing warning lights that were hanging across the intersection between two poles also came down. Van Praag said several motorists stopped to move debris in the roadway and direct traffic.

Sgt. Richard Yoder of the Linn County Sheriff's Office said the woman had minor injuries that were not life-threatening.

Several accidents have been reported at the corner in recent years.

Van Praag wondered if the sunlight prevented the woman from seeing his oncoming car.

"I hope she's OK," said Van Praag, who was on his way to work in Cedar Falls. "She never got out of her car."

Charges were pending, Yoder said.