The six people injured in Sunday evening’s fiery crash on Iowa Highway 44 were identified Monday. The case remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol (ISP).
According to the ISP, Samantha Whitney, 31, of Joplin, Missouri, was traveling westbound on Iowa Highway 44 in a GMC Sierra truck and crossed the center line, colliding with an eastbound Dodge Ram truck and trailer, driven Trevor Cozad, 45, of Yale.
Cozad’s trailer detached in the collision and struck an eastbound Hyundai Elantra, driven by Erika Cozad, 42, of Yale.
Whitney was transported to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines via air ambulance. Also injured was Rhonda Gragg, 58, of Perry, who was flown to MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines by air ambulance. The Cozads and two minor children were transported to Methodist Medical Center by Dallas County EMS.
Whitney and Gragg suffered serious to life-threatening injuries, according to the ISP, and Trevor and Erika Cozad and the two children suffered minor to serious injuries.
The collision occurred about 7:30 p.m. near the 21600 block of 240th Street between Laredo Trail and Sportsman’s Club Road when a westbound pickup truck crossed the center line and collided with two oncoming vehicles.
Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla said the pickup truck driven by Whitney was reported stolen from the Dallas Center area shortly before the wreck. He said alcohol might be a factor in the accident, but no charges have yet been filed.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s office, Adel Police Department, Adel Volunteer Fire Department, Minburn Volunteer Fire Department and Dallas Center Volunteer Fire Department also responded.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
