Waterloo, IA (May 13, 2026) – A woman and a toddler were airlifted to a hospital in Iowa City after a serious two-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon, May 12, north of Waterloo. The collision occurred around 2:54 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 63 and Cedar Wapsi Road.
According to the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, a Chevrolet van was traveling west on Cedar Wapsi Road and entered the intersection after stopping at a stop sign. Investigators said the driver failed to yield to a southbound Nissan Altima traveling on Highway 63, resulting in a violent side-impact crash on the passenger side of the van.
Both vehicles came to rest in the southwest corner of the intersection. Emergency crews responded and reported that the driver of the Nissan required mechanical extrication from the vehicle before being transported for treatment.
All occupants from both vehicles were taken by ambulance to Allen Hospital. Due to the severity of their injuries, the Nissan driver and a toddler passenger were later airlifted to a hospital in Iowa City. Officials said the van driver and a teenage passenger in the Nissan suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
We are thinking of those injured and hope for their recovery.
Why Intersection T-Bone Crashes Often Lead to Severe Injuries
T-bone collisions at intersections frequently result in serious injuries because one vehicle often strikes the side of another, where there is less structural protection. These crashes commonly occur when a driver fails to yield at a stop sign or misjudges the speed of oncoming traffic.
Highway intersections like Highway 63 and Cedar Wapsi Road can be especially risky due to higher-speed traffic and limited reaction time for drivers crossing or entering the roadway. Investigators typically review stop sign compliance, sightlines, and vehicle speeds when determining how these collisions occurred. In severe cases, air medical transport is used when rapid transfer to a trauma center is needed.
