Austin native dies in crash; Semi strikes car on Hwy. 52

Published 8:54 am Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Cody Squier, 22

A 22-year-old Iowa man killed in a semitrailer truck-car crash near Rochester was born and worked in Austin.

Funeral services  for Cody William Lloyd Squier, 22, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, will be at 11 a.m.  Thursday, Aug. 17, at Visitation Catholic Church in Stacyville, Iowa. A full obituary can be read here: https://www.austindailyherald.com/2017/08/cody-squier-22/.

Squier was a passenger in a Chevy Impala struck by a semitrailer on Hwy. 52 in Goodhue County. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The semitrailer was heading north on Hwy. 52 shortly before 7 p.m. At the same time, the Chevy Impala at a stop sign at Hwy. 57 northbound failed to yield at the median and pulled out in front of the semi, according to the State Patrol.

The Impala’s driver, Jacob Paul Nelson, 22, also of St. Ansgar, was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus with noncritical injuries. He and Squier were wearing seat belts.

The semi driver was identified as Christopher John Small, 54, of Coon Rapids. He was not hurt.

Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash, the patrol said.

Squier was born Sept. 5, 1994, in Austin,  the son of Brad and Pam (Theobald) Squier.

He attended St. Ansgar schools and graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 2013.

He earned a degree in computer technology and certificate in web developer and game design.

He worked in the IT department at Hormel Foods and as salesmen for Austin’s Hometown Sears Store.