KALONA (KWWL) -
Authorities have released the name of the driver and the man who was killed after a truck lost control and drove into a crowd of people at a livestock auction in Kalona on Monday.
The Washington County Sheriff says the accident happened at the Kalona Sales Barn around 10 a.m. during a monthly horse auction attended by several hundred people.
"I saw this auctioneer's pick-up coming up real fast, coming up through the people and hitting objects, hitting people," said Gary Borchardt, of Albany, IL. "It went on by us real fast and hit a tree. Knocked the tree down. Broke the tree right off."
Regulars at the sale said due to the crowds it draws, things could have been even worse.
"There are probably 3 or 400 people that come every time," said Sandra Prickett. "It could have been a lot worse. We can be thankful that it wasn't."
Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh says the driver of the auctioneer's truck, 73-year-old James Walter Greiner, of South English, had a medical issue that caused him to step on the accelerator of the Ford F-250 and lose control. He says the truck struck six or seven people on the property before striking a tree, and then continued for another block before stopping.
"There was one body right here," said Borchardt. "Some people got hurt and a lot of kids were crying and screaming. It was a bad thing."
Donald L Breed, 70, of Freeport, Illinois was pronounced dead at the scene. Names of the other people that were injured have not been released.
