Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:00 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Coronavirus-related hospitalizations and admissions ticked higher in Iowa Monday after several days of decline as the state will end the year with over 3,700 dead from the virus. The state reported no additional deaths in the previous 24 hours as of Monday morning. That leaves Iowa’s death toll at 3,745 but a lag in death reports is likely to drive the official year-end total higher. State Public Health data indicates the number of deaths in October was 21% higher than the average monthly deaths for October over the past four years. State data shows 540 new coronavirus cases were reported in the previous 24 hours.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of the Tyson Foods managers fired for betting on how many workers would contract COVID-19 at their Iowa pork plant says the office pool was spontaneous and intended to boost morale. Don Merschbrock, a former night manager at the plant in Waterloo, Iowa, said he was speaking out in an attempt to show that the seven fired supervisors are “not the evil people” that Tyson has portrayed. Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson announced the terminations of the Waterloo managers on Dec. 16, weeks after the betting allegation surfaced in wrongful death lawsuits filed by the families of four workers who died of COVID-19.

WALCOTT, Iowa (AP) — Two people are dead and another person is injured after a wrong-way, head-on crash on an eastern Iowa interstate highway. The accident happened late Saturday on Interstate 80 near Walcott. The Iowa State Patrol said a 1999 Chrysler Concorde was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes when it struck an Infiniti QX60. The driver of the Concorde, 30-year-old Amanda Lin Countryman of Compton, Illinois, was killed, along with 28-year-old Connor Reisenbigler of New York City. The driver of the Infiniti, 27-year-old John Martin Keane of the Bronx, New York, was hospitalized but his condition was not released. The patrol says the accident remains under investigation.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — It has been nearly 10 months since Neil Bennett of Iowa City became Iowa’s first person hospitalized for the coronavirus. The 74-year-old is still dealing with the impact. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Bennett was admitted to a hospital in early March. Though he long ago returned home, Bennett still uses a cane and walker and undergoes physical therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation to build up strength in his body and lungs. Bennett says he sometimes becomes impatient with his progress and craves a sense of normalcy. He urges people to wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash their hands frequently.

LAKE PARK, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports the victim in the December 22, 2020, death investigation in Lake Park has been identified as 25-year-old Angel Bastman, who resided at 104 Maple Ave in Lake Park. Investigators learned on December 22nd, 2020, that Bastman had previously rented a vehicle in her name.  Investigators were unable to locate that vehicle and placed a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) for the vehicle.

On December 26th, 2020, Sioux City Police located the missing rental car driving in Sioux City and attempted to stop the rental vehicle. The vehicle fled and a pursuit was initiated.  The driver, later identified as 23-year-old Justice Berntson, who was involved in a traffic accident and has been charged with Felony Eluding and Driving While Barred by Sioux City Police. The death investigation of Bastman is on-going and no further details are being released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is requested to please contact the Lake Park Police Department at 712-336-2525, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office at 712-336-2793, or the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 712-262-1873.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (today), said 33-year old Jack Ray Winchel, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:20-a.m., Sunday, for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

There were also two non-injury accidents the past couple of days. At around 2:30 Monday (today) morning, an accident happened on 221st Street, as 35-year old Matthew Dennis was driving a 1999 Ford northbound. The vehicle went off the road on the east side. Dennis over-corrected, sending the vehicle into the west ditch, where it apparently rolled over and came to rest upright. Dennis left the scene following the accident.

And at around 1:25-p.m. Saturday, 36-year old Jamie Mendoza, of Shenandoah, was traveling south on 390th Street in Mills County, and was reportedly unfamiliar with the area. She took her eyes off the road while looking at the road signs, and when she saw she was heading for the ditch, over-corrected and lost control of her 2009 Dodge. The vehicle went into the east ditch, through a fence and came to rest in a field. Mendoza was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, and Operating a Non-Registered vehicle.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a man from California was arrested last week, following a traffic stop on eastbound I-80 at mile marker 76. The Iowa State Patrol stopped a 2016 Mini Cooper driven by 39-year old David Paul Willitzer, of San Diego, at around 7:40-p.m. Dec. 24th, after dispatch received numerous calls about a vehicle unable to maintain lanes or speed and had struck another vehicle near the 22 mile marker.

The Trooper observed the suspect vehicle cross the center line several times, and that the vehicles’ speeds varied. Following the traffic stop, and upon further investigation, the Trooper saw Willitzer apparently banging or shaking his head, while the windows to his car were rolled down. He also an open container of beer in the center console. Willitzer admitted to drinking two craft beers with 6.8% alcohol content each, with the third can in the console about half-empty.

Based on observations of his standard Field Sobriety Test, and a preliminary BrAC of .124, Willitzer was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. He was also cited for Open Container-Driver, No valid driver’s license, Operating without registration, and improper use of lanes. He was transported to the Adair County Jail and released Christmas Day on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 5:45-p.m., Thursday, 44-year old Joseph Eric Funke, of Fontanelle, was pulled over at Highway 92 and the Bridgewater Road. The Deputy knew Funke was barred from driving, and Funke admitted he knew that was true. He was cited for the offense and released at the scene.

An icy road surface contributed to accidents on I-80 Sunday morning. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports the road was 100% ice covered and freezing rain was occurring, when an accident involving two SUV’s occurred at around 9:25-a.m. on I-80 eastbound. Authorities say a 2014 Jeep Cherokee driven by 68-year old Rodney Deaton, of Panama City Beach, FL., went out of control and was rear-ended by a 2019 Toyota Highlander. The driver of the Toyota – 72-year old Douglas Sawyer, of Albion, IN.  – told Deputies he saw the Jeep skid out of control, but due to the road conditions, could not stop in-time.

Deaton complained of pain afterward, but did not request or require transportation to the hospital. Damage from the accident amounted to $38,000. No citations were issued.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests over the weekend. 34-year-old Michael Edward Baker, of Creston, was arrested Saturday in Creston. He was charged with driving while suspended and possession of paraphernalia. Baker was released from the Union County Jail on $600 bond. And, Sunday night, 22-year-old Kane Allen Michael Farlow, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for failure to appear on the original charge of interference with official acts, along with a Union County warrant for violation of parole. Farlow was being held in the Union County Jail without bond.

Des Moines – The Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau reports an eastern Iowa man, 38-year-old Luke Mathew McDermott, of Delmar, was recently charged with one felony count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information. The charges against McDermott stem from an investigation which began in February 2020. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Insurance Fraud Bureau, McDermott made false statements and submitted fraudulent documents in support of a fire claim.

On December 20, 2020, McDermott was arrested by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office after an arrest warrant was issued by the Clinton County District Court. McDermott was cited and released with a promise to appear in court on a later date.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.