The teenaged driver of a pickup died, and his passenger was injured, during a crash early this (Saturday) morning, in central Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol says 17-year old Chase Rylee Mohler, of Maxwell, was driving a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup southbound on 645th Avenue, west of Maxwell, when the vehicle crested a hill, went out of control and into a ravine before vaulting out of the ravine and coming to rest on a farm drive embankment. Mohler, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene.

His passenger, 16-year old William James Spencer, of Maxwell, was transported to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines by Maxwell Rescue. The accident happened at around 1:20-a.m.  The Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Story County Sheriff’s Deputies, and Maxwell Fire and Rescue.