On July 2, 2024, at approximately 12:25 p.m., emergency personnel responded to the East Alley of the 200 Block of North Hancock and Dewey Street for a motor vehicle accident involving a Dodge truck and an 8-year-old male riding a bicycle.
The driver of the truck was identified as Earc Timothy Pilcher, age 37, of Eldon. The initial investigation into this incident identified that the truck accidentally backed over the child in the traveled portion of the alley. The 8-year-old child died as a result of the accident. No charges have been filed and the accident remains under investigation by the Ottumwa Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol.