News : Brandon Fire Department Assists with SUV vs. Parked Semi accident

The Brandon Fire and First Responders responded to a call on Monday, May 5th, 2025 at approximately 5:30 p.m. The call went out for the department to dispatch to I-380 in the southbound direction for an accident that had occurred at the 48-mile marker.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2014 Jeep GCH driven by Kory Hackenmiller of Grafton, Iowa struck the rear end of a semi trailer that had pulled off to the side of the road and was stopped. The driver of the semi, Jose Ramos Jr., of Palo Hills, Illinois was not injured.

The force of the impact caused the SUV to be wedged under the back of the trailer.A passing motorist stopped and assisted the person who was trapped in the vehicle and helped the driver to exit the vehicle. The driver of the SUV only sustained cuts and bruises and was transported to MercyOne in Waterloo. Hackenmiller was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

Along with Brandon's response, the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department and LaPorte City Ambulance also rendered mutual aid for the call.

Brandon Fire and First Responders would like to remind drivers to be alert when behind the wheel. At interstate speeds, a vehicle travels over 100 feet per second.

Photos courtesy of Brandon Fire and First Responders