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5th crash victim in Adair Co. identified

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January 11th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

In an update to our earlier story, the Iowa State Patrol Saturday evening released the identity of an individual who died in a rollover accident Friday night in Adair County. Officials say 19-year old Erik Rauda, of Grand Island, NE, was among five people, all of whom were from Grand Island, who died during the crash on Interstate 80, in Adair County.The other victims were previously identified as the driver of the car, 29-year old ALex J. Paz-Lobo, and his passengers, 41-year old Javier Martinez-Martin, 25-year old Denis Juvenal Sorto-Martinez and 21-year old Jose B. Martinez. Officials say Martinez-Martin was the only victim out of the five who was wearing his seat belt.

The Patrol says a 2011 Chevy Camaro occupied by the five men was traveling east on I-80 south of Menlo at around 8:10-p.m., when the car went out of control, crossed the median and entered the westbound lanes of traffic, before it rolled into a field on the north side of I-80. None of the victims were ejected during the crash. Officials say high speed and alcohol use were likely contributing factors to the crash.

The pavement was wet but not icy at the time of the accident. A patrol spokesman said there is a curve in the Interstate at the site of the accident, and the car appears to have missed the curve. The Grand Island men were among 11 people who died in vehicle crashes and collisions on Iowa highways on Friday and Saturday. The Iowa State Patrol believes icy roads were a factor in most of the other accidents.