O'Connell, an Irish family, is devasted after van crash in Iowa. (Updated 06/21/2009)
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 335
This is one of those accidents I hate writing about but without this posting the relatives and friends back in Ireland may wonder about how to obtain information concerning the O'Connell family. I reviewed the Iowa State Patrol report of this family's June 14, 2009 accident. I’m going to report details so the extended family and friends in County Clare, Ireland know what is being reported in Iowa. The Clare Herald is reporting the story based on news reports from several sources quoting the I.S.P. report. This information comes from the I.S.P. crash report. For those interested in the Clare Republic article here is the link.
Former Gort camogie star killed in US road crash, June 16, 2009, The Clare Herald
Here is what is in the Iowa State Patrol report. Young Sarah B. O’Connell, age 15, was driving and was the only van occupant wearing her seat belt. The other passengers were the father, Henry J. O’Connell (age 50), his wife, Sarah A. (age 44) and two other small children, Colman (age 13) and Maeve (age 10). Only young Sarah who was wearing her seat belt was not ejected from the interior of the van. The van was a 2003 Honda Oddessy.
The accident occurred on June 14, 2009 at 6:36 P.M. as they were traveling southbound on Highway 61 at milepost 170 in Jackson County, Iowa. Jackson County is in eastern Iowa, just south of Dubuque and northwest of Clinton. The speed limit was 65 miles per hour (104.61 Km/hr). The airbags did deploy.
Here is the trooper’s narrative of how the accident occurred.
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 61 AT MILE MARKER 170. VEHICLE WENT OFF ONTO RIGHT SHOULDER, DRIVER STEERED LEFT OVERCORRECTING LOOSING CONTROL IN ROADWAY. VEHICLE LEFT ROADWAY ON LEFT SIDE AND TRAVELED INTO MEDIAN AND BEGAN TO ROLLOVER. VEHICLE ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES EJECTING ALL PASSENGERS. VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON IT'S WHEELS IN THE NORTHBOUND LEFT LANE AND SHOULDER FACING EAST.
There don’t appear to be any contributing factors noted by the Iowa State Trooper who investigated the accident. The first event noted was “ran off road, right” followed by “evasive action (swerve, panic braking, etc.)” followed by “overturn/rollover”.
Both Sarah, the mother along with Maeve were flown by helicopter ambulance to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. The University Hospitals mailing directory is listed by department and the general address is University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Room (tell them Maeve is in the pediatric ICU, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1009.
Sarah, the daughter and her brother Colman were taken by the Maquoketa Ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa.
Henry J. O’Connor appears to have been pronounced dead at the accident scene as he was taken to the Jackson Regional Hospital by the Medical Examiner. The Jackson County Regional Hospital can be contacted as follows: 700 W. Grove Street, Maquoketa, Iowa 52060 and telephone is 319-652-2474 and fax 319-652-4076. The website is http://www.healthenterprises.org.
The Iowa State Patrol can be contacted through the District 12 Office, 22365 20th Avenue, Stockton, Iowa 52769-9612. The Trooper in charge of the accident investigation appears to be ISP3633, C. Nelson from Post 12. Anyone can contact the I.S.P. at the Headquarters located at 215 East 7th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319. Phone: 515-725-6090. Email: ispinfo@dps.state.ia.us.
District 12 contact information is different: Iowa State Patrol, District #12, 22365 20th Avenue, Stockton, IA 52769 and telephone 563-284-9501
A telephone call to the University of Iowa Patient Admissions desk (319-356-2456) has Maeve in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (I.C.U.). A call to this number will allow you to be connected to the room.
General/Patient, Information 319-356-1616
Patient Room Information 319-356-2456
Special Communication Needs
UI Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
The reports don’t indicate if there is other family in the United States and the Midwest where Wisconsin is located. My wife’s relatives (Tubridy) are all Irish and her family hails from County Clare in Ireland. There is a still a local restaurant there named Tubridy’s. Last year in October we visited Ireland and drove around for two-weeks exploring Dublin and the southern part of Ireland from west to east. So I have some familiarity with the area. If anyone wishes more information feel free to contact us here in West Des Moines, Iowa and Barbara or I will be happy to accommodate however we can.
The posting of this information will be on the law firm’s website. This is not a solicitation for business; it is to assist the family and friends. We are sorry to read of this loss.
See The O’Connell’s from Ireland killed in U.S. road crash, June 17, 2009. The Lombardi Law Firm.
Stories on the Web with relevant information.
Family fly to comfort children orphaned in tragic car crash
By Louise Hogan, Wednesday June 17 2009
All of the children went to school in the Wisconsin city of Madison where the family had set up home.
The crash happened shortly after the school term had finished, and just two days earlier Sarah's Madison Memorial High School soccer team had played in the state tournament.
Family friend Kelly Meuer said he had known the family for almost a decade through the soccer team.
He said the family had moved between the US and Ireland on a couple of occasions, but mainly Mrs O'Connell had lived in Wisconsin with the children while Mr O'Connell was away on business. She had worked as a teacher's aide in the Madison School District. Mr O'Connell, who had a background in engineering, worked as a business consultant.
"Joe hadn't seen the kids, because he had been across the sea," Mr Meuer told a US newspaper. "They were going to take two weeks and, honestly, they didn't have an itinerary."
Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
Relatives of US crash family say thank you for support
By Louise Hogan, Thursday June 18 2009
Both parents died following the crash, while Sarah and Colman (13) were hospitalised, but have since been released. Their youngest daughter, Maeve (10), was last night described as being in a "fair condition" at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.
Their family thanked everyone for their kind efforts through a website dedicated to the O'Connell family, who had set up home in the city of Madison, Wisconsin, after leaving Ireland around eight years ago.
The family said Sarah and Colman would be "reunited" with Maeve at the Iowa hospital.
"Maeve, who suffered more serious injuries, is progressing," they added.
Fr Brendan Walsh, the parish priest for Causeway, said the families planned to bring the bodies home, with the burial expected to take place in the Kerry village. However, a date has not yet been confirmed.