Former McCook woman killed in collision in Iowa

Friday, November 23, 2018

BLENCOE, Iowa — A former McCook woman was killed in a head-on collision on Iowa’s I-29 near Blencoe, Iowa, Wednesday evening.

The Iowa State Patrol reports that Carolyn Klimper, 51 years old, of Fort Morgan, Colo., died when her northbound 2012 Dodge Caravan was struck by a 2016 Dodge Caravan driven southbound in the northbound lane. The driver of the southbound Caravan, 40-year-old Angela Bender of Omaha, also died in the collision reported at 10:53 p.m.

Klimper’s husband, Preston, 52, and their daughter, Mikayla, 21, were injured and taken by Burgess EMS to Burgess Hospital in Onawa. Also injured in the accident was 32-year-old William Wiley of Phoenix, Ariz., another passenger in Klimper’s vehicle, who was transported to Mercy Hospital by Mercy Air Care.

After the initial impact, Bender’s minivan traveled south into the median before stopping on the inside shoulder of the southbound I-29 lanes. Klimper’s minivan continued north, crossing both lanes before entering the east ditch.

The accident is under investigation.

Carolyn Klimper taught English as a second language and sixth grade English for McCook Public Schools before her family moved to Fort Morgan.

It was her son, Trenton, 14 years old at the time, who raised funds for and installed “Going Home,” a bronze statue of an angel and a fallen soldier, in Norris Park in McCook as his Eagle Scout project in 2009.

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  • Carolyn was an outstanding educator both as an ESL director and then as an English instructor. More than being a great teacher she was a great person. Can rarely remember a time she did not have a smile on her face and a positive attitude. Her family is equally strong. Proud to call her a friend. Prayers for her and her family.

    -- Posted by dennis on Fri, Nov 23, 2018, at 5:23 PM
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