It wouldn’t have taken much more velocity for this motor home to end up at the bottom of the waterfall on Poplar River. As it was, both the driver and his passenger were lucky. Neither sustained major injuries in the crash. The driver fell asleep, which caused the vehicle to cross the road and smash through the guardrail on Highway 61. Photo courtesy of Justin Bystrom
On Thursday, July 12 a couple experienced a terrifying crash when their RV motor home broke through a guardrail and settled about 40 feet over the embankment of the Poplar River.
According to Sgt. Neil Dickenson, “The driver told the trooper he had fallen asleep while driving.”
Richard Fulton Iacarella of Nisswa, Minnesota, age 70, was the operator of the 1995 motorized home. He was also towing a Chevy Trailblazer behind the motor home.
The vehicle was traveling eastbound on Highway 61 when it crossed over the centerline, struck a guardrail and ran off the road onto the left lane and into the Poplar River ravine.
The Cook County Sheriff ’s Office, Lutsen Fire Department, Lutsen EMS, Cook County Emergency Management, U.S. Border Patrol and Cook County North Shore Ambulance responded to the incident at about 12:20 p.m.
Both Richard and Cynthia Ann Iacarella, age 71, were taken to Cook County North Shore Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
The couple was wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, and according to the incident report, road conditions were dry, and no alcohol was involved in the accident.
According to Valerie Marasco, Cook County director, Office of Emergency Management & Public Information, responders were attempting to locate a Trailblazer that was being towed behind the RV, which broke free into the river during the accident.
“The Minnesota duty officer and local Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District were notified regarding expelled vehicle fuels,” said Marasco
“It is very surprising that these people were not critically injured in this accident,” said Sheriff Pat Eliasen. “I commend our local responders for their swift actions and securing the scene.”
Marasco reported that Lake City Towing of Superior, Wisconsin, was called to extract the oversize vehicle, and upon moving the vehicle around 4:15 p.m., it started on fire. Lutsen Fire and Lutsen EMS were again paged and were able to suppress the fire and cleared the scene at 6:50 p.m.
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