UPDATE 6/29/25: Driver identified in fatal bicycle/auto collision in Fayette County
The Iowa State Patrol says it happened around 10:14 am north of West Union. The crash report says a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Steven Steinberg, 72 of Ossian, was heading south on Juniper Road when it hit a southbound bicycle just south of Kitty Road.
The State Patrol says the bicycle rider,Ronald Saboe, 76 from West Union, was found dead at the scene.
This fatal collision is under investigation.
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A 76-year-old bicyclist was killed after being hit by a minivan on a rural road in northeast Iowa on Sunday morning.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, both the bicyclist and a 2016 Chrysler Town and Country were traveling southbound on Juniper Road north of West Union in Fayette County. The van struck the bicyclist around 10 a.m. Sunday.
The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the bicyclist.
The crash remains under investigation.
According to the latest data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, 120 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads. That number is eight fewer than at the same point in 2024. Over the last five years, an average of 353 people have been killed in statewide crashes annually.
According to the DOT's data, this is the first bicycle fatality in 2025.
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Crash Date: June 29th 2025
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BIKEIOWA NOTE: We dislike the object blaming here - "hit by van" and "hit by a minivan". - It was a person who hit and killed Ron. More on object blaming (scroll to the "Stop Object Blaming" Section).
We continue to work with media outlets and public safety communicators to address the harmful practice of object blaming - when headlines or reports shift responsibility from the person at fault to an inanimate object.
You’ve seen it:
- “Cyclist killed by SUV”
- “Pickup strikes rider”
- “Car crosses center line, kills two”
These phrases subtly erase the human responsibility behind the crash. A vehicle doesn’t make decisions - a driver does. Just like we wouldn’t say “a gun killed a person” instead of “a person shot someone”, we shouldn't say “a car killed a cyclist” when a driver’s actions caused a fatal crash.
Words matter. They shape public perception, policy decisions, and how much urgency our communities place on traffic safety and accountability.
What can you do?
If you see object blaming in a news report or post, take a moment to politely contact the source - whether it’s a journalist, editor, or organization. Let them know how important it is to use language that reflects human agency and responsibility.
We all play a role in shifting the narrative toward a culture that values accountability, clarity, and safety. Every correction is a step forward.