Accident results in 7th OWI arrest for De Soto man

On March 27, at 8:25 p.m., the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two-vehicle traffic crash on Highway 82 (Lansing Dike), one mile west of Highway 35, in the township of Freeman.

Elijah A. Bark, 31, Gays Mills, was operating a 1986 Freightliner dump truck, loaded with approximately 55,000 pounds of sand, eastbound on Highway 82. Christopher J. Konichek, 61, De Soto, was following behind the dump truck, operating a 2002 Chrysler Voyager van. 

While both vehicles were traveling eastbound, Konichek struck the rear driver’s side of the dump truck with the passenger side of his vehicle. The dump truck sustained moderate damage and the van sustained severe front-end damage.

Konichek was transported by Lansing EMS to Crossing Rivers Health for medical evaluation. Konichek was placed under arrest for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence (seventh offense) and transported to the Crawford County Jail for booking. Konichek was also issued a citation for following too closely.

Assisting on scene were the Lansing Fire Department, Lansing EMS, Lansing Police Department, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office and Milo’s Towing.