The Lombardi Law Firm Blog

The O'Connor's from Ireland killed in U.S. road crash

This is a special kind of post about an Irish family livng in Wisconsin and who suffered a terrible van accident in northwestern Iowa.

After reviewing the Iowa State Patrol report of a June 14, 2009 accident involving the O’Connell Family 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 and they may with to report further details in the local newspaper.

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 northeast 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 ___, 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 (Tubridy) is all Irish and her family hails from County Clare in Ireland. There is a still a local restaurant, 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 connection. 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.

See The O’Connell’s from Ireland killed in U.S. road crash, June 17, 2009. The Lombardi Law Firm.

The reports don’t indicate if there is other family in the United States and the Midwest where Wisconsin is located. My wife Barbara (Tubridy) is all Irish and her family hails from County Clare in Ireland. There is a still a local restaurant, 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 connection. 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.

I will attempt to update this information so those still in Ireland can know what is happening.  If you have any questions call us and we'll see what we can do to assist. 515-222-1110 or fax 515-222-0718

Steve and Barbara