KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Editor's Note: The above video is from Monday, July 15
One person is dead after a minivan drove into a nursing home in Knoxville Monday afternoon, according to the Knoxville Police and Fire Departments.
The Knoxville Fire Department responded to Accura HealthCare of Knoxville at around 3 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of a vehicle driving into the building.
When they arrived, crews found a minivan had driven through a wall. First responders extricated a resident who was trapped in their room.
Out of "an abundance of caution", Accura HealthCare residents were evacuated from the building, the nursing home said on Facebook. Residents stayed at the Knoxville Hospital and the National Guard Armory while the building was secured, and were eventually let back into the building at 7 p.m. Monday.
A resident of the nursing home, 70-year-old Rebecca Richardson, died of injuries suffered in the accident. The driver of the minivan was airlifted to a hospital in Des Moines, Iowa State Patrol reports.
"While it will take some time to repair the damage caused by yesterday’s car accident, we are committed to restoring our community as quickly as we can to the home our residents have grown accustomed to and deserve," Accura HealthCare said on Facebook. "We want to thank our community members, our residents, and families for the patience and understanding you have shown over the last 24 hours. We also must thank our staff who immediately responded with dedication and grace, keeping the impact on our residents to a minimum."