Charges have now been filed against a Cresco man who struck a Sheriff's Deputy with his vehicle

A traffic accident Tuesday afternoon on Pole Line Road got more complicated after Sheriff's Deputies responded to it.

Around 3:00 p.m. 64-year-old Gerald Ferrie of Cresco was westbound on Pole Line Road when he crested a hill and saw 76-year-old David Drtina of Cresco on a John Deere tractor, pulling two corn wagons.  Drtina had made a wide right turn to get into a narrow field driveway.  Ferrie saw Drtina and braked and ultimately swerved to the right ditch to avoid colliding with Drtina.  He clipped a culvert under the roadway and his semi rolled onto its right side, spilling a load of corn he was carrying.

When deputies arrived, they closed the roadway to investigate the accident and clean up the scene.  During this time 34-year-old Adam Strand of Cresco allegedly drove around a fully-lit sheriff's vehicle parked in the roadway and struck a deputy who was attempting to stop him from entering the accident scene.  Strand continued through the accident scene and then struck a fully lit emergency management vehicle that was parked blocking the accident scene. 

Deputies tested Strand and determined he was under the influence.  Due to Strand's level of intoxication, he was transported by Howard County Ambulance to Regional Health Services of Howard County in Cresco, and then transferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  The Winneshiek County Deputy who was struck sustained minor injuries. 

The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office says Strand has been charged with failure to maintain control, striking an unattended vehicle, failure to comply with an order of a peace officer, failure to maintain or use safety belts, an unsafe approach to certain stationary vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.  The Iowa State Patrol has pending charges of 2nd Offense operating while under the influence.

Deputies were assisted by the Howard County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the Cresco Police Department, the Cresco Fire Department and Winneshiek County Emergency Management.