The Iowa State Patrol says a distracted driver caused a rear-end collision that sent two people to the hospital Monday evening, in Pottawattamie County. Officials say a 2001 Honda Civic driven by 30-year Jeffrey Vana, of Logan, was stopped in the outside lane of  northbound Interstate 29 due to a previous accident, when his car was rear-ended by a 2004 Chevy Impala. The driver of the Impala, 26-year old Teddy E. Mahoney, of Onawa, was distracted by a bag in the passenger compartment of his vehicle, just before the collision occurred.

The Patrol says following the collision, both cars ended-up in the east ditch. Even though they were wearing their seat belts, both drivers were injured in the crash, with Vana being transported by Crescent Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Council Bluffs. The accident happened at around 5:50-p.m., at the 67.65-mile marker, or about two-miles north of the Honey Creek exit.