Two men were critically injured in a crash involving a semi and tractor on Highway 163 in the Pella City Limits Wednesday morning.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, a John Deere Tractor pulling a mower operated by 78 year old Thomas Harry Van Vliet of Pella was rear ended by a semi in the eastbound lanes driven by 80 year old Wallace Dean Lippard of What Cheer at 11:22 a.m.

Lippard was flown to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines by helicopter and Van Vliet was transported to Pella Regional Health Center by Pella Ambulance.

The Pella Police Department, Pella Fire Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa DOT also assisted. Highway 163 was closed in the eastbound lanes for several hours. The crash remains under investigation.