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Brother-in-Law of Iowa Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Sand Killed in Lucas County Crash
LUCAS COUNTY, Iowa — A 42-year-old Des Moines man identified as the brother-in-law of Iowa State Auditor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand was killed Thursday evening, October 15, after being struck by a vehicle along U.S. Highway 34 in Lucas County.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, Walter E. Lauridsen II was pronounced dead at the scene following the crash, which occurred at approximately 8:21 p.m., about half a mile east of 127th Avenue.
Investigators reported that a 2015 Honda Pilot driven by 66-year-old Nicholas Craig Hunter of Des Moines was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 when it approached a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG parked along the side of the roadway.
Hunter reportedly moved into the westbound lane to travel around the parked vehicle. At approximately the same time, Lauridsen, the driver of the Mercedes-Benz, entered the westbound lane on foot and was struck by the Honda.
Lauridsen was pronounced dead at the scene. Lucas County Emergency Medical Services transported his body to the medical examiner.
Lauridsen was the brother of Christine Lauridsen Sand, wife of Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand, who is currently seeking the Democratic nomination's victory in the November gubernatorial election. The Lauridsen family is associated with the Lauridsen Group, an Iowa-based company with international operations in health, agriculture and nutrition.
Public campaign finance records show Lauridsen contributed $500,000 to Sand's gubernatorial campaign earlier this year, making him one of the campaign's significant individual contributors.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding why Lauridsen's vehicle was parked along the highway or the circumstances that led him to enter the roadway.
No additional injuries were reported.
The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol
