A Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office employee has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway regarding a hayride accident last Saturday that left several Sigourney students injured.

At approximately 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, the Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls stating a pickup pulling a trailer for a hayride was involved in an accident on a gravel road east of What Cheer. Multiple injuries were reported requiring medical attention to which the What Cheer QRS, What Cheer Fire Department, Keokuk County Ambulance Service, and University of Iowa AirCare responded.

After an investigation by the Iowa State Patrol and Keokuk County Sheriff’s Office, it was determined that a party organized by parents of 7th grade students from Sigourney Schools was being held at Griffin Park outside of What Cheer. An employee with the sheriff’s office was off-duty, but involved with the operation. Their leave of absence will continue pending the outcome of the administrative investigation. KCII will have more information as it becomes official.