(Updated) The Iowa State Patrol has released additional information with regard to two recent accidents on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Lt. Joel Ehler, ISP Post 3 District Manager, told KJAN News an accident today (Friday), on I-80 westbound at around 4:40-a.m., took place when a female driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, crashed into the back of a semi tractor-trailer. The accident happened one-mile east of Exit 64. Ehler said the 16-year old was driving at a high rate of speed, and that alcohol was involved. The teen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Mercy hospital in Des Moines by Mercy Helicopter, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The owner/operator of the semi, 39-year old Randall Bartee, was not injured in the crash. Assisting the State Patrol at the scene were the following: Anita Rescue & Wiota 1st Responders; Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Atlantic Police; IA DOT and the Cass County Emergency Management Agency.

The other accident happened at around 8:11-p.m. Wednesday, on I-80 eastbound at the 69.5 mile marker. In it’s initial report, the Patrol said a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 18-year old Caleb Lee Clemon, of Soldier, Iowa, ran into the side of a 2016 Volvo semi tractor trailer registered to Nationwide Transportation in Omaha, and driven by 70-year old Andre Lee Slusher, of Lake Milton, OH. Clemon was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by mechanical means. He was transported from the scene by Midwest Air to the UNMC in Omaha. Additional information on his status was not available. The report said he was wearing a seat belt. The car was totaled in the crash. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Lt. Ehler said the accident report was not fully complete, and additional information will be released later. Sources say however, that it appears Clemon’s vehicle was pulled off onto the shoulder of the Interstate along with a group of other vehicles, due to the heavy rain in a severe thunderstorm. He apparently pulled back onto the road into the path of the semi’s trailer and became wedged underneath.