JEFFERSON, IA — Two people hurt in a Saturday crash in Greene County have been identified as Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center students Gavin Pederson and Alli Wiers, both of whom were airlifted to Des Moines hospitals with life-threatening injuries.
AC/GC Superintendent Josh Rasmussen confirmed the identifications to Raccoon Valley Radio. The crash happened at 1:02 p.m. at the intersection of 290th Street and J Avenue, where investigators say a pickup entered the path of a semi-trailer rig.
Authorities said the case is still under investigation, and the students remained hospitalized as of Sunday night.
Sheriff says the pickup ran a stop sign before the impact
Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams said the 2004 GMC Sierra was traveling north on J Avenue when it failed to stop at the intersection and struck the side of a 2022 Freightliner semi that was heading west on 290th Street.
The collision was described as a T-bone crash, and the force of the impact left both vehicles totaled. The semi was driven by Joseph Wiederin of Lake City, who was taken by Greene County Ambulance to Greene County Medical Center with minor injuries.
First responders from the sheriff’s office, Jefferson Fire Department, Greene County Ambulance and Iowa State Patrol all responded to the scene.
Students were flown to Des Moines hospitals after the wreck
Rasmussen said Pederson and Wiers were inside the pickup at the time of the crash and were the ones transported by air ambulance to Des Moines for treatment. Officials have not publicly identified which hospitals received them.
The severity of their injuries led to immediate concern in the AC/GC community. Their names were shared after confirmation from school leadership, and the district has not released further details about their conditions.
Family members, classmates and neighbors were left waiting for more information while the two students remained in the hospital.
Community prayer vigil brought students, families and supporters together
In Guthrie Center, a group called Rooted In Scripture and Encouragement, or RISE, helped organize a Sunday night vigil for the students on the AC/GC High School football field. The gathering was set up for prayer and thoughts as the community hoped for recovery updates.
The event reflected the close ties in the school district and the sense of urgency surrounding the crash. With both students still hospitalized, supporters used the vigil to show concern and solidarity.
No formal fundraiser or longer-term response was announced with the vigil, but organizers brought people together while the district waited for news.
Investigators are still piecing together what happened at the intersection
The Iowa State Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash and has not announced any charges or further findings. Sheriff Williams’ account indicates that the stop-sign violation was the key factor under review, but officials have not said whether additional evidence will change that assessment.
The wreck took place at a rural intersection where traffic from both directions met at the same time, making the failure to stop especially dangerous. The fact that both vehicles were declared total losses underscores the violence of the collision.
For now, authorities are focused on the crash investigation and the condition of the injured students.
Greene County crash leaves questions about recovery and next steps
The crash has affected two students, a truck driver, and a school community now waiting for medical updates and answers from investigators. While Pederson and Wiers faced the most serious injuries, Wiederin’s release from the scene with minor injuries shows the different outcomes from the same collision.
Officials have said only that the investigation remains open. Raccoon Valley Radio said it will share additional information as it becomes official, but for now the major facts are the timing of the crash, the vehicles involved, and the community response that followed.
Those details have made the wreck one of the most significant local emergencies in Greene County in recent days.
