Three injured in Merrill accident

Three passengers and one driver were injured Sunday when a Sioux City man failed to stop for a car on Highway 75 in Merrill.

Peter Volodja Boe, 70, of Sioux City was westbound on C-44 at 7:45 p.m. and came to the stop sign at Highway 75 in Merrill, according to the Plymouth County Sheriff's report.

Lukas James VanderStoep, 21, of Maurice was northbound on Highway 75 in the outside lane, traveling with three passengers.

Boe stated to the deputy that he felt he slowed for the stop sign but may not have come to a complete stop, also citing the sun as a factor in the accident. According to the sheriff's report, Boe failed to yield to VanderStoep's vehicle and entered Highway 75, striking VanderStoep's front tire, disabling the 1998 GMC pickup VanderStoep was driving.

VanderStoep's three passengers, Jeffrey Gene VanderStoep, 18, of Maurice, Jacob Lee VanderStoep, 19, of Maurice, and Kirsten Ariel McConnel, 18, of Sioux Center were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City by the Merrill Ambulance. The two VanderStoeps reported non-incapacitating injuries and McConnel reported possible injuries. Boe was taken by Hinton ambulance to Mercy Medical Center for treatment of non-incapacitating injuries.

All four injured people were released from Mercy Medical Center on Sunday, Aug. 10.

VanderStoep's vehicle received $2,600 in damage. Boe's vehicle received $4,000 in damage. Boe was also cited with failure to yield entering a through highway.