A traffic error on a dark rural road led to a double fatal crash late Saturday night in Scott County. Jace Geissinger, 19, and Nolan Crowell, 18, died when a car filled with four Clinton teenagers blew through a stop sign and smashed into their vehicle. The collision occurred around 11:35 p.m. at the intersection of 210th Avenue and 290th Street.
Investigators say traffic moving along 210th Avenue, which serves as Utica Ridge Road between McCausland and Long Grove, has complete right-of-way. Crowell was driving a white 2009 Mazda 6 northbound with Geissinger in the passenger seat when the black 2011 Chevrolet Impala suddenly blew past the stop sign on 290th Street.
The eastbound Impala slammed into the side of the Mazda without slowing down. The impact was strong enough to throw both cars completely off the asphalt and send them onto private property located at the northeast corner of the crossroads.
Dozens of emergency personnel arrived at the scene shortly after 11:35 p.m., including crews from the McCausland and Princeton fire departments, Iowa State Patrol, and Scott County deputies. Medics quickly confirmed that neither Crowell nor Geissinger survived the initial blow.
The four occupants of the Impala—a 17-year-old driver from Clinton along with three passengers aged 16, 17, and 19—were treated by emergency transport teams. Medical workers brought all four young people to nearby hospitals, where doctors treated their injuries and listed them in stable condition.
Accident reconstruction officers spent hours mapping out tire marks, vehicle damage, and sight lines across the 210th Avenue intersection overnight. Detectives are reviewing whether speed, distraction, or poor nighttime visibility played a role in why the 17-year-old driver failed to stop.
The Scott County Sheriff’s Office continues its official investigation into the wreck, and potential traffic charges remain under review. Local residents along Utica Ridge Road note that rural intersections can be hard to judge at night, making this weekend’s crash a painful lesson on how quickly a missed stop sign can turn deadly.
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