One injured in chain-reaction crash in Ely involving two vehicles and a power line pole

ELY — One person was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Monday when a motorist collided with another vehicle and then careened into a power line pole in Ely.

According to a media release from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, responders were called at 6:10 p.m. for the report of a vehicle that had lost control and struck a power line in Ely at the intersection of State Street and Vavra Drive. State Street is the name of stretch of Ely Road that passes through the town. KCRG reported that traffic was temporarily rerouted while crews worked to remove the downed power lines.

After officers arrived on scene and investigated further, they determined that a driver of a Honda Ridgeline heading south on State Street had lost control and struck a GMC truck, and then the power pole afterward, according to the release.

The driver and sole occupant of the Honda was identified as Merrilee Ramsey, 63, of Solon, according to the release. The truck was driven by Roger McDowell, 63, of Ely, who was also the only occupant of his vehicle.

Police say McDowell was taken by Area Ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Ramsey was uninjured. Both Ramsey and McDowell were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, according to the release.

The crash remains under investigation by the Linn County Sheriff's Office, according to the release. Linn County Sheriff's Rescue, Ely Fire Department, and Area Ambulance responded to the incident.