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(UPDATE) Officials ID 2 killed in eastern Iowa crash involving semi

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October 7th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

PALO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in eastern Iowa have identified two people killed in a crash involving three vehicles, including a semitrailer. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that the Monday afternoon crash at a rural intersection south of Palo was caused when a pickup driven by 17-year-old Jaymin Rathje, of Palo, crossed the center line and hit the semi nearly head-on. The semi then flipped and hit a car driven by 27-year-old Jacqueline Voelker, of Palo. Both the semi and car caught fire.

Investigators say the 61-year-old semi driver was pulled from the burning wreckage by passing motorists and was flown to a nearby hospital. Rathje and Voelker were declared dead at the scene.