New Virginia, IA (March 10, 2026) – A head-on crash between two vehicles left both drivers injured on Monday morning, March 9, west of New Virginia in Warren County.
Emergency units responded around 6:06 a.m. to G-76 west of 25th Avenue following reports of a serious collision. Authorities said a 2011 Subaru Outback and a 2016 Jeep Wrangler collided head-on in the westbound lane of the roadway.
The driver of the Subaru, identified as 19-year-old Gabriel Stansell of New Virginia, suffered serious injuries. He was flown by medical helicopter to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for treatment.
The driver of the Jeep, 47-year-old Aaron Wickett of New Virginia, was also hurt in the crash. He was taken by ambulance to the same hospital.
Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a towing service. The crash remains under investigation.
Our thoughts are with those injured as they continue to receive care and recover from their injuries.
Head-On Collisions on Rural Two-Lane Roads
Longer roadway stretches near G-76 and 25th Avenue may encourage higher travel speeds. Injury accident responses in the New Virginia area often focus on scene visibility and keeping the roadway safe for approaching drivers.
Two-lane rural roads carry traffic in opposite directions without a physical divider. When vehicles cross the center line or drift into the wrong lane, the chance of a direct head-on crash increases because drivers may have little time to react.
Head-on collisions can lead to severe injuries because the impact force combines the speed of both vehicles. Road conditions, visibility, and driver actions can all influence how these crashes occur on rural highways.
