Suspect Charged with Driving Drunk After Crashing Car into North Iowa School

A 64-year-old man is facing a drunk driving charge after he allegedly drove his car into a north Iowa school over the holiday weekend.

Hampton Police arrested Kirk Gunderson of Hampton for OWI after he was accused of crashing his vehicle through the front of the Hampton-Dumont High School about 9 pm Saturday (12.27) night. He was also cited for numerous traffic violations.                                                                     

Gunderson was taken to the Franklin County Jail Saturday evening and was released Sunday morning.                                                                           

According to a social media post from Hampton-Dumont-Cal Superintendent Tim Felderman, the car went through the front entrance and cafeteria, before hitting the lunch line door. No students or staff were harmed in the crash.                                                                            

Felderman added that the district has created a temporary enclosure for the front entrance and secured the building. While this is less than ideal, the administrative team will put together a re-entry plan for when students resume classes on January 5th. 

Felderman says they will make sure that the building is structurally sound, safe and secure from any debris prior to students returning to school after winter break.

Officials request avoiding the front of the building and any sightseeing which may occur as the repairs continue.