Red Oak, Iowa — August 5, 2026
Red Oak Police Department officers responded to a two-vehicle, non-injury accident Wednesday afternoon in the 300 block of East Coolbaugh Street.
According to the official crash report, the incident occurred at approximately 3:09 p.m. on August 5. Sgt. Josh Roberts of the Red Oak Police Department investigated the scene.
Officers learned that Jacqueline Michelle Mason, 52, of Shenandoah, was backing her 2025 Ford Bronco Badlands from a parking spot onto Coolbaugh Street. At approximately the same time, Heather Lynn Mertz, 34, of Red Oak, was backing her 2023 Chevrolet Silverado from another parking spot on the south side of the street. The two vehicles collided in the middle of Coolbaugh Street.
The collision caused an estimated $1,200 in damage to the rear of the Bronco and approximately $2,500 in damage to the rear driver side of the Silverado. Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were driven from the scene.
Both drivers reported that they looked but did not see the other vehicle. Vision for both was listed as obscured by parked vehicles. Each vehicle had two occupants. No injuries were reported, and no citations were issued as a result of the accident.
Conditions at the time of the crash were daylight with cloudy skies and dry road surfaces. The location was described as a non-intersection area on the roadway.
The Red Oak Police Department report (Form #26-007497) classifies the manner of collision as rear-to-side. Both drivers were listed as apparently normal with no alcohol or drug tests administered.
