LUCAS COUNTY, Iowa – Walter E. Lauridsen II, the 42-year-old Des Moines real estate developer and investor, was struck and killed Thursday evening on U.S. Highway 34 in Lucas County after stepping into the westbound lane on foot. According to Iowa State Patrol reports cited by local outlets, the incident occurred around 8:21 PM on Thursday, October 15, 2026, roughly a half-mile east of 127th Avenue, about 10 miles west of Chariton. Lauridsen’s 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG was parked along the shoulder when 66-year-old Nicholas Craig Hunter of Des Moines, driving a 2015 Honda Pilot eastbound, moved into the opposing lane to pass it. At the same moment, Lauridsen entered that lane and was hit. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and Lucas County EMS transported his body to the medical examiner. No other injuries were reported, and the crash remains under investigation, with authorities noting they have not disclosed why the Mercedes was parked or why Lauridsen walked into the roadway. Lauridsen was a Cornell University graduate who spent more than 15 years with the family-owned Lauridsen Group. In recent years, he focused independently on real estate development and investing in small businesses in the Des Moines area. He was active in community work, serving on the board of the Harvest Academy and the National Advisory Council of the Robert and Billie Ray Center. He is the brother of Christine Lauridsen Sand, CEO of the Lauridsen Group and wife of Iowa State Auditor and gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, making him Sand’s brother-in-law. The family has been prominent donors to Sand’s campaigns. Zach Lahn reportedly held a moment of silence during his Buena Vista County Rally this morning in honor of his opponent’s loss. Those who knew him say he was happiest working with his hands, whether restoring old cars, shaping wood, or helping shape the organizations he served. He prioritized time with his son above most everything else, and he leaves behind a vast network of family, friends, and colleagues, as well as a record of quiet involvement in community efforts aimed at rehabilitation and the arts. Business inquiries, corrections, story leads, or contributor requests? Email us at [email protected]. Photo: Benjamin Lehman