Wayne Novak, 80, of Mount Vernon, was transported to University of Iowa Hospitals Tuesday, Sept. 2, following a crash involving a semi. When he was transported, Novak was conscious and breathing fine after being ejected from the tractor and ending up in the ditch.
Taylor Handy, a spokesperson for the Novak family, urged motorists to be paying attention as farmers move into the harvest season.
“Move over. Slow down. Be patient. Pay. Attention. We’re literally begging you,” Handy wrote. “If we had a choice, we wouldn’t be out on the road with you. We don’t want to be out there, especially on Highway 30, with all the speeding cars, impatient, and careless drivers, as much as you don’t want us out there.”
Handy and the Novak family thanked first responders for their care at the scene,
“Your love and support has been felt today, but please keep Wayne in your prayers for continued improvement and healing,” Handy said.
According to Sgt. James R. Gale of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, first responders were paged to a crash along Hwy. 30 eastbound just west of Cedar River Road at 2:55 p.m. Upon emergency personnel arrival, they found a John Deere 440 tractor in the south ditch, and Novak in the ditch. A semi, driven by Steven W. Rice, 55, of Des Moines, rear ended the tractor, which had been pulling a manure spreader. Rice was uninjured in the crash, and his semi was blocking one lane of traffic. Linn County Hazmat teams were dispatched due to a diesel leak to one of the fuel tanks in the semi in the south ditch.
Witnesses and evidence at the scene indicate Rice rear ended the tractor with his semi, causing the tractor to roll and enter the south ditch. Investigation is still ongoing by Linn County Sheriff’s Office. One lane of Hwy. 30 was closed until 5:40 p.m. until investigation and both vehicles could be cleared and the roadway made safe for travel.
Other agencies responding to the crash included Lisbon Fire Department, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Patrol CMVU, Mount Vernon-Lisbon Police Department, Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance service and Linn County Sheriff’s Rescue.