A man from Council Bluffs was cited, and may face additional charges, following an accident Thursday afternoon, in Pottawattamie County. Police in Council Bluffs say at around 3-p.m., the Pottawattamie County 911 Center received a call of a vehicle that had crashed into Mosquito Creek near Mall Drive. A man was seen fleeing the area. Council Bluffs Police officers, with the assistance of the Iowa State Patrol were able to locate the driver, 52-year old Jeffery Gearhart, of Council Bluffs, near the crash scene.

An investigation revealed that Gearhart had started a new medication, possibly causing impairment. He’d been traveling east on Mall drive when he lost control of the 2005 Chevy Malibu he was driving, as it approached the bridge at Mosquito Creek. The vehicle rode up the southern guardrail and hit a sign before vaulting into Mosquito Creek. Authorities say the car appears to have floated down stream before coming to rest.

Vehicle as found

Gearhart wasn’t injured in the crash. he was checked for possible impairment and later cited for leaving the scene of a property damage crash, no insurance proof, no vehicle registration, and failure to maintain control of his vehicle. Additional charges may be filed in the future regarding impairment.