(Creston, Iowa) – One person suffered from possible/unknown injuries following a collision that involved three-vehicles Friday afternoon, in Creston, According to Creston Police, the accident happened at around 1:17-p.m. at the intersection of Highway 34 and 25 (Sumner and Taylor Streets). An investigation determined a 2017 Ford Escape (SUV) driven by 72-year-old Penny Ripperger, of Thayer, was westbound on Highway 34, when the woman began to make a left turn southbound, toward S. Sumner Street.

A 2003 Ford Taurus driven by 39-year-old Briget Carroll, of Afton, was eastbound on Highway 34, when Ripperger failed to yield the right-of-way and turned into Carroll’s car. Police say Carroll attempted to avoid the collision by swerving to the right, but her car was struck by the SUV.

Carroll’s car then crashed into a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup, driven by 55-year-old Vern Liesener, of Creston, as the pickup was facing north, legally stopped at the red light on S. Sumner. The car and the pickup sustained disabling damage. The SUV sustained minor damage, according to the report.  Briget Carroll complained of pain, but was not transported to the hospital.

Ripperger told Police she turned into the path of the Taurus because she didn’t see it and thought the path was clear. No citations were issued. The vehicles sustained a combined total of $6,000 damage.

(Guthrie County, Iowa) – A teenager died, and adult and two juveniles were injured, during a head-on collision Saturday afternoon east of Panora. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2003 Chevy Cavalier driven by 17-year-old Savannah Nicole Matthias, of Guthrie Center, was traveling westbound on Highway 44, west of Willow Avenue, and a 2016 Ford F-250 pickup was traveling eastbound.

When the car failed to negotiate a curve, it crossed the center line into the eastbound lane, and struck the pickup head-on. The crash happened at around 4:50-p.m.

Savannah Matthias, who was wearing her seat belt, died at the scene. The driver of the pickup, 37-year-old Noelle Elizabeth Bubeck, of Redfield, and 10-year-old Cassey Bubeck, along with 11-year-old Whyet Bubeck, both of Redfield, were injured in the crash. All three of the occupants in the pickup were wearing seat belts.

The 10-year-old was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Unity Point in Des Moines for treatment of suspected serious injuries. Noelle and  Whyet Bubeck suffered minor injuries and were transported to the same hospital by family members.

(Tama, Iowa) – A Tama County Deputy on patrol Saturday afternoon, noticed heavy smoke coming from an area off of Highway 30 east of Tama, near Exit 204. When he investigated, the Deputy found a vehicle fully engulfed in flames south of the railroad tracks, in a remote and hard-to-reach area in the 3400 block of N Avenue, just south of Highway 30.

The Deputy immediately notified dispatch, and Tama Fire Department and Tama EMS were paged to the scene. Due to the thick brush and intensity of the fire, it was initially unclear whether anyone was inside the vehicle. Once Tama Fire began knocking down the flames, an elderly male was found deceased in a deep ditch with standing water near the driver’s side of the vehicle. His name was not immediately released.

The case remains under investigation. The individual’s next of kin was notified, and the body of the individual was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. At this time, authorities say no foul play is suspected.

Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt said thanks to Deputy Dvorak for being alert and quick to act when he saw the smoke, the fire was brought under control quickly and was kept from spreading further into the dry brush. In his news release, the Sheriff said “With how dry the conditions have been recently, his timing likely prevented a much larger and more dangerous fire.”

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston cited a teen from Creston following an investigation into a crash that occurred at around 3:25-p.m., Friday, in the 400 block of Wyoming Avenue. Authorities say security footage of the crash showed a 2007 Buick Lucerne traveling at a high rate of speed when the car entered an intersection and went airborne. The vehicle went out of control and skidded sideways before it went over a curb and into the yard of a residence and struck a tree.

Evidence obtained through the video resulted in the 16-year-old male driver of the car being cited for Reckless Driving, Failure to Maintain Control, and Failure to provide proof of insurance – accident related. The teen was not injured in the crash. The car sustained a police estimated $4,000 damage, and was declared a total loss.

Authorities viewing the video saw a red Ford Mustang behind the Buick that appeared to have been trying to keep up with the car. The driver of the Buick identified the driver of the Ford as a friend. That person was subsequently cited for Careless Driving due to his high rate of speed, and having to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting the Buick when it went out of control.

(Lee, Plymouth & Poweshiek Counties) – The Iowa State Patrol reports four people died and four others were injured in separate crashes that occurred Saturday. (As we previously reported) 18-year-old Lucas Timothy Johnson, of Farmington, died in a Lee County motorcycle crash. The accident was discovered at around 7:40-a.m. Saturday, near Pilot Grove. The Patrol says Johnson’s Yamaha motorcycle left the road when it failed to negotiate a curve, and struck a utility pole. He died at the scene. The accident remained under investigation.

In Poweshiek County, two people died and four others were injured, when an SUV driven by 18-year-old Andrew J. Buttler, of Freeport, FL, failed to stop at the intersection of Highway 63 and Ewart Road, and collided with another SUV, that was driven by 51-year-old George J. Wegner, of Judson, Arkansas. The 2015 Jeep Buttler was driving came to rest in a cornfield. The crash happened at around 5:30-p.m., Saturday.  Two rear seat passengers in the vehicle died at the scene. They were not wearing seat belts. Their names were not released (as of the posting of this report).

Buttler, George Wegner, and two passengers in the vehicles were injured. They were identified as 48-year-old Jessica L. Atta, of Judsonia, AR, and 18-year-old Martin Contreras, of Hinsdale, IL. The injured – who were wearing seat belts – were transported by ambulance to the hospital in Grinnell

The third fatal accident happened at around 7:45-p.m. in Plymouth County. The Iowa State Patrol says a pickup driven by 19-year-old Sarah Van Ostrand, of Struble (IA), was westbound on County road C-12, when the vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with an eastbound semi. Ostrand died at the scene. The driver of the semi, 35-year-old David Cleveringa, of Sioux Center, was not injured.

(Lee County, Iowa) – A man on a motorcycle died from injuries he suffered during a crash early this (Saturday) morning, in southeast Iowa. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 1983 Yamaha motorcycle operated by 18-year-ol Lucas Timothy Johnson, of Farmington, was traveling west on Lee County Road 103 near Pilot Grove, when the cycle failed to negotiate a curve in the road.

The motorcycle entered the north ditch and struck a utility pole. Johnson died at the scene. The accident was discovered at around 7:40-a.m., Saturday. The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

(Leon, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in southern Iowa’s Decatur County posted on social media, Friday, with regard to a report about a person brandishing what appeared to be a gun, near the lineup of the Central Decatur School District’s Homecoming Parade, Friday.

The School’s Sheriff’s Department Resource Officer (SRO) said Deputies responded to the scene, and “Determined weapon was an airsoft gun, and not an actual firearm.” While the incident remained under investigation, the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office said there was “No ongoing threat to the public or the scheduled homecoming activities.”

Additional information was not provided. Separately, Creston Community School District Superintendent Deron Stender posted on social media, Friday, that District officials became aware of a rumor circulating regarding an unsubstantiated threat of school violence.

Stender said “After thoroughly reviewing the matter, we have determined there is no credible threat to our schools.Out of an abundance of caution, we have asked local law enforcement to be present at school for the remainder of the day to provide additional support and reassurance.” The Superintendent said also they “…encourage families to remind students that if they see or hear something concerning, they should share it with an administrator or school employee right away.”

Additional details concerning the incident were not available.

(Iowa City, Iowa) – State leaders in Iowa are condemning a statement made on social media by the Chairman of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. In his statement Friday on his personal social media page, Jon Green said he would “Defy the Governor’s order that the colors be flown at half-staff through Sunday on behalf of Charlie J. Kirk.”

Green said that while he condemns Kirk’s assassination, Wednesday in Utah, “regardless of who pulled the trigger or why,” he would – quote –  “not grant Johnson County honors to the man who made it his life’s mission to so many of the constituents I have sworn an oath to protect and who did so much harm not only to the marginalized, but also to degrade the fabric of our body politic.”

He said he would assume the consequences of his actions, legal or otherwise for his decision, which he said was his and his alone. Governor Kim Reynold, Friday, said in response on social media, “It’s disgraceful that a locally-elected official has chosen to put politics above human decency during a time like this.” And, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird posted on social media, “It is small-minded and disgraceful that a leader in our state refuses to honor our American principles of freedom and free speech.”

(Creston, Iowa) — An alleged incident involving a Creston Community School District employee’s social media post has resulted in the employee being placed on paid administrative leave.

Creston Superintendent Deron Stender, Friday, said on the District’s website and Facebook, that while specific details regarding the incident cannot be shared because it’s a confidential personnel matter, the administration is “Carefully reviewing the situation in accordance with Board policy and applicable laws, and we are consulting with our legal counsel throughout this process.”

The employee was placed on paid administrative leave “pending the outcome of this review.” In a previous message posted on the District’s page, the Superintendent Stender stated he was fully aware of a situation regarding a recent post placed on social media by a school employee, and that it didn’t reflect the values, beliefs or opinions of the district.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a woman from Red Oak was arrested late Friday evening on a warrant. Deputies arrested 38-year-old Sarah Kay Reafleng, in Red Oak, at around 7:15-p.m. She was taken into custody on an active warrant for probation violation.

Reafleng was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash-only bond.