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Double fatality crash w/3 others injured in NE Iowa, Sat. night

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July 2nd, 2023 by Ric Hanson

(Spillville, Iowa) – Two people  died and three others were hurt, during a collision late Saturday night in northeastern Iowa’s Winnesheik County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred at around 11:10-p.m. at the intersection of County Highway B16 and 265th Avenue, in Spillville.

The Patrol says a 2004 Toyota Highlander SUV driven by 42-year-old Christopher Mirich, of Waukon, was traveling north on 265th Avenue, when the vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with a 2012 Chevy Malibu, driven by 49-year-old Neil Heins, of Monona.

Mirich and a passenger in one of the vehicles, 64-year-old Laura Lubka, of Postville, died at the scene. Neils Heins, and two other passengers in the vehicles were injured.  The others included 36-year-old Scott Uhlenhake, of Luana and 28-year-old Taylor Gerleman, of Calmar.

None of the crash victims were wearing a seat belt. The injured victims of the crash were transported by ambulance to the hospital.The crash remains under investigation.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, 1st Responders, Decorah Police and Fire Dept., Calmar Fire & Rescue, Ossian Ambulance, a Howard County Sheriff’s Deputy, a DNR officer, Provtin Rescue, & Gunderson Air Care.