The Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details about a fatal two-vehicle crash that occurred Monday afternoon on Iowa Highway 110 near the Storm Lake Municipal Airport, killing a Buena Vista University (BVU) student and injuring three other people.
According to Sheriff Kory Elston, a sheriff’s deputy came upon the crash shortly after it occurred at approximately 1:31 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Highway 110 and 85th Avenue.
Investigators determined a southbound Ford Taurus collided with a northbound Ford Transit van.
The Taurus was driven by 18-year-old Denzel Scott of Angleton, Texas. He was transported by ambulance to Buena Vista Regional Medical Center (BVRMC) in Storm Lake before being transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The front-seat passenger, 19-year-old Marley Smith of Battle Creek, also was transported to BVRMC before being transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The back-seat passenger, 21-year-old Kaylee Nachtigal of Dickens, was transported to BVRMC, where she was pronounced dead.
Nachtigal was a BVU student who competed on the university’s women’s wrestling team. She graduated from Spencer High School in 2024. Scott and Smith are also BVU students. BVU President Brian Lenzmeier announced Nachtigal’s death in an email to the university community on Monday, expressing condolences to her family, friends and classmates and offering support to the injured students and their families.
The Ford Transit van was driven by 53-year-old Brian Reinert of Newcastle, Neb., who was the vehicle’s sole occupant. A sheriff’s deputy transported him to BVRMC.
Elston said the deputy immediately requested emergency medical services and fire department assistance because occupants of one vehicle were trapped.
The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Storm Lake Police Department, Storm Lake Fire Department, Alta Fire Department, BVRMC Ambulance and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Law enforcement remained at the scene until approximately 4:30 p.m. Monday.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
