POWESHIEK COUNTY, IA – June 20, 2025** — What began as a calm summer morning in rural Iowa ended in heartbreak, as 70-year-old James Jacobi of Belle Plaine lost his life in a devastating two-vehicle crash on Highway V18, just north of 460th Avenue in Poweshiek County.

The fatal collision occurred Thursday morning around 9:15 a.m. According to initial reports from the Iowa State Patrol, Jacobi was traveling southbound when his vehicle was struck by an oncoming pickup truck attempting to pass a slower-moving farm vehicle. Emergency crews arrived quickly, but despite their efforts, Jacobi was pronounced dead at the scene.

Residents of Belle Plaine and surrounding communities are mourning the loss of a man described by neighbors as kind-hearted, hardworking, and deeply committed to his family and community. Jacobi, a retired farmer and lifelong Iowan, leaves behind a wife of 45 years, three children, and several grandchildren.

“This is a tragedy that has shaken us all,” said Poweshiek County Sheriff Tom Kriegel. “Our hearts go out to Mr. Jacobi’s loved ones. No one expects a routine drive to end like this.”

The driver of the second vehicle, whose name has not been released, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing and will include a full reconstruction of the accident.

As family and friends begin to grapple with their loss, tributes are pouring in — from handwritten notes left outside the Jacobi home to online messages of remembrance. Many recall James as a man who always waved from his porch, never missed a church Sunday, and took pride in his land, his tractor, and most of all, his family.

A memorial service is expected to be announced in the coming days. Meanwhile, the small towns and wide fields of Poweshiek County feel just a little quieter, and a little heavier, in the wake of this sudden and sorrowful loss.