TAMA COUNTY - An accident between a charter bus and a car sent 35 people to a the hospital on Wednesday. It happened around 11:00 a.m. on Highway 30 in Tama County.

The Windstar Line, Inc. is the operator of that charter bus. Windstar President, Jeff Greteman, released the following statement to KCRG-TV9 on Thursday regarding the accident.
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At 10:59 a.m. Wednesday, July 23rd, a Windstar Lines, Inc. motor coach on a casino tour traveling from Cedar Rapids to Tama was involved in a collision on Highway 30 approximately 1 mile to the east of the Meskwaki Casino. There were a total of 50 adult passengers on board plus the driver. Jeff Greteman, President of Windstar Lines, Inc. stated “Reports reaching us indicate 35 people were taken to Marshalltown Medical Hospital and Surgery Center. All but five passengers were treated & released with minor cuts and bruises. The five passengers that were held overnight did not have life threatening injuries. Some passengers were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released. The identification and condition of the people hospitalized is unconfirmed at this time. Windstar Lines, Inc. dispatched another motorcoach to Tama to transfer the passengers from the hospital back to Cedar Rapids. Some passengers chose to spend their day at the Meskwaki Casino prior to returning to Cedar Rapids.”

Greteman continued, “All evidence at this time indicates the approaching car crossed the center line and swerved toward our motorcoach. This evidence is proven by the onboard camera system our company operates in all 29 of our motorcoaches. We would like to commend our operator for taking evasive action to avoid a head on collision. He made a split second decision that most likely saved lives. The impact of the approaching car to the front drivers’ area and side of our motorcoach caused the motorcoach to veer into the ditch where the coach slowed and when stopped, tipped over. We are providing copies of the video of the collision to the Iowa State Patrol and our insurance company.”

Windstar officers and employees were at the scene and assisted with investigation and clean up. The motorcoach was towed from the scene and taken to a DOT site for an inspection. Iowa Department of Transportation officials inspected the coach and found no defects that would have contributed to the accident.

Greteman also stated, “Windstar Lines, Inc. would like to thank the Iowa State Patrol, the Tama County Sheriff, the Tama & Toledo Fire Departments and First Responders, officials at the Meskwaki Casino, Bill Balzer and anyone else who assisted our passengers at the scene. We would most like to thank our passengers for their patience, understanding, and kind words toward our driver and his actions. Our company has begun our own investigation and is cooperating fully with local and state officials.”