On December 18th at approximately 2:51 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office was notified of a one-vehicle crash on County Highway D at the intersection with Center Road in Smelser Township.

During the investigation, it was found that Pedro Chavez, age 19 of Peosta, IA, was operating his.2015 Jeep Cherokee eastbound on County H, when Chavez drove off of the south side of the road and entered the ditch. Chavez continued through the ditch and struck a guy wire for a utility pole with the front of his vehicle. The vehicle then struck an embankment on the west side.of Center Road, likely causing the vehicle to become airborne and strike another embankment on the east side of the road. Chavez had been wearing his seatbelt and multiple airbags deployed in the vehicle. Chavez sustained minor injuries, but refused transport by EMS.

The vehicle received severe damage and had to be towed from the scene.

Chavez was cited for Operating without a Driver’s License and Operating a Vehicle without Insurance. Chavez was also issued a written warning for Failure to Maintain Control of a Vehicle. The Cuba City

Fire Department, Southwest Health EMS, Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, and Automotion Towing assisted at the scene.