The Lombardi Law Firm Blog

Iowa Premise Liability Law: Door swept by wind strikes woman in head, killing her

Yesterday we reported on a man dying from being thrown from his truck as it rounded a curve. The way the story was written it left me with the impression he was the driver.

Today we have a report of a 61-year-old woman dying from being struck by a wind-swept door. Seems the woman in rural Alton was struck by the door of a machine shed that was blown open by a gust of wind. According to the news reports she was found unconscious in her own yard. She later died at a Sioux City hospital. Very strange indeed.

Fifty-mile per hour winds broke the door free, from what is unknown, but it then struck her in the head causing what proved to be a fatal injury.

Years ago the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a release targeting garage door deaths. It seems like this is a separate issue from the issue with the machine shed. See Release No. 91-082.

It is certainly a tragedy for the Schuetz family. We wish them well in getting over this tragic accident.

This story was covered by the Chicago Tribune, KLEM 1410, Omaha World Herald, the Quad City Times online, KCRG, the Des Moines Register and KCCI-Des Moines. KCRG did something I’ve not seen before; they put the story on Twitter using a tinyurl.