Six-Year-Old Seriously Injured After Car Hits Him in Waterloo

Six-Year-Old Seriously Injured After Car Hits Him in Waterloo

Originally printed at http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Car-Hits-Boy-in-Bike-in-Waterloo-127505963.html

By Lauren Peikoff

August 11, 2011

WATERLOO, Iowa --- Waterloo police say a car hit a six-year-old boy riding a bicycle Wednesday night.

Officers say the boy was crossing the street at the intersection of Lafayette and Vinton streets when the car hit him.

Responders took the boy to Allen Hospital, but he was later flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Officers say he suffered serious injuries, but they are not believed to be life-threatening.

The incident remains under investigation.

Teen Killed in Collision Between Car and Buggy

Originally printed at http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/One-Killed-in-Car-Verus-Buggy-Accident-Involving-Iowa-Man-127225353.html

By Lauren Peikoff

August 8, 2011

FENNIMORE, Wisconsin - A teenager was killed when a car struck a horse and buggy in Grant County, Wis. early Monday morning.

Authorities said the crash was reported around 12:30 a.m. along U.S. Highway 18 near County Road F. Jason T. Danhof, 35, of Waukon, Iowa, was eastbound when he crested a hill and crashed into the back of the buggy operated by Christian Esch, 17, of Fennimore, Wis., according to the sheriff's office.

Esch and two others, Lydia Esch, 19, and Elizabeth Miller, 17, both of Fennimore, were thrown from the buggy. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Christian Esch and Lydia Esch were both transported to Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster, and Lydia Esch was later airlifted to University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics in Madison with life-threatening injuries. Deputies said Christian Esch's injuries were considered minor.

Danhof was not injured in the crash.

Authorities said the buggy did not have a visible slow-moving vehicle sign. An investigation was continuing.

Texting Listed as Possible Factor In Crash That Killed 2 Iowa Teens

Originally printed at http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Texting-Listed-as-Possible-Factor-In-Crash-That-Killed-2-Iowa-Teens-127060708.html

By Ian Philbrick

August 6, 2011

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) - Texting while driving is being listed as a possible factor in a deadly crash in Pottawattamie County that killed two teenagers.

The Daily Nonpareil reported Friday that Pottawattamie County sheriff's records show 19-year-old Elizabeth Chadwick, of Crescent, sent a text message just before she lost control of her car and collided with an airport shuttle van on July 17.

Chadwick and a passenger, 18-year-old Jessica Weinfurtner, of Council Bluffs, died at the scene. Six passengers in the van were injured.

The sheriff's report shows Chadwick placed a call at 11:10 p.m. followed by a text message at 11:11. The crash happened at 11:14 p.m.

Sheriff Jeff Danker says investigators can't prove texting caused the crash but he says they can only assume that's what caused Chadwick to lose control.

Sheriff: Nebraska Crash Victim from NW Iowa

Originally printed at http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Sheriff-Nebraska-Crash-Victim-from-NW-Iowa-126678653.html

By Aaron Hepker

August 3, 2011

SOUTH YANKTON, Neb. (AP) -- Northeast Nebraska authorities say an Iowa man died in a motorcycle crash near Gavins Point Dam.

Cedar County Sheriff Larry Koranda identified the victim as 20-year-old Hunter Heidesch, of Marcus, Iowa.

Koranda says his deputies responded to the crash scene a little after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan reports (http://bit.ly/qo1dVk ) that the accident occurred on Nebraska Highway 121 just east of the dam. The dam backs up Lewis and Clark Lake, which straddles the state line between Nebraska and South Dakota.

Authorities say it appeared that Heidesch lost control of his vehicle and struck a pickup when he was thrown. Two people in the truck weren't hurt.

Swisher Teen Killed in Rollover was Drunk, Texting

Originally printed at http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Swisher-Teen-Killed-in-Rollover-was-Drunk-Texting-126583558.html

By Adam Carros

August 2, 2011

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - A teenager who died in a rollover crash near Cedar Rapids was legally drunk and was using his cell phone when he lost control of the vehicle, authorities said Tuesday.

Drake D. Whitters, 19, of Swisher, was killed when the car he was driving on June 9 went off Walford Road, just west of 34th Street SW. Investigators said the westbound car went off the gravel road around 3:15 a.m. and came to rest on its top in the south ditch.

A passenger in the car, 16-year-old Jason M. Velvick, of Swisher, was injured in the crash but survived.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said toxicology tests showed Whitters' final blood alcohol level was 0.181 percent, more than twice the legal limit. Gardner said the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is found in marijuana, was also present in his system.

Investigators also determined Whitters was either composing a text message or attempting to read one at the time of the crash, based on his cell phone records and Velvick's statements.

"Any one of them could have caused him to lose control, but certainly the combination of the three increased his chances of losing control," Gardner said.

After the crash, Velvick went to get help and made contact with a nearby resident, but then went home, Gardner said. Investigators were not able to confirm where Whitters and

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