An assistant soccer coach for the University of Nebraska was killed Saturday morning during a crash on Interstate 80 in western Iowa. 31-year old Peter John Underwood, of Lincoln, NE., was reportedly traveling on a recruiting trip, when the eastbound car he was in was struck by a pickup truck traveling in the wrong direction on I-80, near the Marne exit. Underwood died at the scene. The crash happened at around 7-a.m.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, 49-year old Paul William Marshall, of Modale, was  driving the 2009 Dodge pickup that struck the 2009 Pontiac Vibe Underwood was in, head-on. Marshall was transported by Medivac ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, and later flown by helicopter to a hospital in Omaha. The accident remains under investigation.

University officials said Underwood had just completed his fourth season with the Nebraska women’s soccer program, serving the last two as a full-time coach and the previous two as a volunteer assistant. He is survived by his wife, Austin, and their two young children, daughter, Lyla, and son, Jude.

A statement issued by Huskers Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, said “The University of Nebraska Athletics family is deeply saddened by the loss of Peter Underwood and our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his wife, Austin, their children, Lyla and Jude, and his extended family and friends.” Eichorst said also,”Peter was a beacon of positive light, a wonderfully talented coach, and an even better family man of great character and faith. He will be missed by all of us.”

Underwood helped the Huskers to the Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2013, as Nebraska posted a 19-4-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A native of London, England, Underwood moved to the United States and played one season of varsity soccer at Concord before the program was dropped.

Services are pending. Condolences can be sent to: Underwood Family, P.O. Box 880120, One Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588-0120.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested Friday afternoon on an assault charge. 19-year old Carol Marlen Schubert, of Villisca, taken into custody at around 3:40-p.m., for Domestic Abuse Assault. Schubert was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The Iowa State Patrol reports four people were injured in a two-vehicle accident Friday in Monona County. The accident happened at around 3:30 p.m., at the intersection of County Highways E-24 and K-64. Authorities say 63-year-old Michael Brenden, of Whiting, was driving eastbound on Highway E-24 in 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup, when his vehicle collided with a northbound 2010 GMC Yukon, driven by 25-year-old Jessica Tadlock, of Hornick. Following the crash, both vehicles ended up in a farm field northwest of the intersection.

Michael Brenden and his passenger, 36-year-old Christine Brenden were transported by ambulance to Burgess Hospital in Onawa. Nine-year-old Justin Goodvin was airlifted to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City. The patrol says the three were not wearing their seatbelts.

Cael Tadlock, who was riding in a child restraint seat, was also transported to Burgess hospital in Onawa.

(Check back for updates to this story)

An assistant soccer coach for the University of Nebraska was killed Saturday morning during a crash on Interstate 80 in western Iowa. KETV in Omaha reports 31-year old Peter Underwood was traveling on a recruiting trip near Atlantic, when the eastbound car he was in was struck by a pickup truck traveling in the wrong direction on I-80, near the Marne exit. The crash happened at around 7-a.m.  Additional details about the crash had not been released as of 8-p.m. Saturday.

University officials said Underwood had just completed his fourth season with the Nebraska women’s soccer program, serving the last two as a full-time coach and the previous two as a volunteer assistant. He is survived by his wife, Austin, and their two young children, daughter, Lyla, and son, Jude.

A statement issued by Huskers Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst, said “The University of Nebraska Athletics family is deeply saddened by the loss of Peter Underwood and our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his wife, Austin, their children, Lyla and Jude, and his extended family and friends.” Eichorst said also,”Peter was a beacon of positive light, a wonderfully talented coach, and an even better family man of great character and faith. He will be missed by all of us.”

Underwood helped the Huskers to the Big Ten Conference regular-season and tournament titles in 2013, as Nebraska posted a 19-4-1 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A native of London, England, Underwood moved to the United States and played one season of varsity soccer at Concord before the program was dropped.

Services are pending. Condolences can be sent to: Underwood Family, P.O. Box 880120, One Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE 68588-0120.

No injuries were reported following a residential fire in Atlantic, early Saturday morning. The Atlantic Fire Department responded to the blaze at 405 West 5th Street, at around 4:30-a.m. Dense smoke was emitting from the home when the first crews arrived on the scene, but the home’s owner, Trevor Cavin, and his cat, was able to escape prior to firefighters’ arrival.

According to Fire Chief Mark Mcnees, Cavin was asleep and woke up when he had trouble breathing. There was no smoke detector in the home, which was being remodeled. McNees told KJAN News the fire apparently started when an electrical extension cord became pinched beneath a refrigerator and eventually became hot and may have started a nearby towel on fire.

Cavin tried to put out the flames, but the smoke and flames were too much for him to handle. Shortly after fire fighters arrived, the flames erupted into a “Flash fire” and quickly spread into the attic area. Crews were on the scene for about 2-to 2/12 hours. The cause of the blaze was listed as “electrical.”

Two people were arrested on drug charges, Saturday, following a traffic stop in Crawford County. The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office says during the stop on 3rd Ave. South, in Denison, 40-year old Julie McManigal of Manning, was taken into custody and charged with Possession of Marijuana a (Serious Misdemeanor) and Methamphetamine a (Serious Misdemeanor) and Drug Pharaphernalia a (Simple Misdemeanor). Her Bond was set at $1000.

Subsequent to the traffic stop, a search warrant was executed by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and assisted by the Denison Police Department at 1715 3rd Avenue South in Denison, As the result of the search warrant 36 year old Tami Russman- Mendoza, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine a (Serious Misdemeanor) and Drug Paraphernalia a (Simple Misdemeanor) Her bond was set at $1000.

Two people from North Carolina were injured this (Saturday) afternoon, during a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 80, in Cass County (IA). The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by 33-year old Vincent MBairie, of Charlotte, NC, was traveling west on I-80 at around 1:25-p.m., when the U-S X PRESS truck went out of control as it was traveling in the right lane, about three-miles west of the Anita exit.

The semi crossed the median and eastbound lanes of traffic before entering the south ditch, where it came to rest. MBarie, and a passenger in the truck, 38-year old Danyell Williams, of Statesville, NC, were transported by Anita Fire and Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell has been elected chairman of the seven-member Iowa Transportation Commission. The Des Moines Register reports that Boswell was elected to the post last week. The commission is the policymaking arm of the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The 81-year-old Boswell owns a farm near Davis City along the Iowa-Missouri border and is a former member of the Iowa Senate who has remained active in state government since he was defeated for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.

Boswell is a Vietnam veteran and a decorated U.S. Army helicopter pilot who now co-chairs Gov. Terry Branstad’s Home Base Iowa program to recruit military veterans to work and live in Iowa.

SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 55-year-old Georgia man convicted of killing his former roommate in Sac City has been sentenced to what could amount to life in prison. The Sioux City Journal reports that John Green was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison. State law requires he serve at least 35 years before he’s eligible for parole.

Green had been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Mark Koster, but was convicted in April of the lesser offense of second-degree murder. Green had said he killed Koster in self-defense. But prosecutors argued that Green significantly outweighed Koster and therefore didn’t need to kill the man to defend himself.

Koster was declared missing in 2010. His remains were later found buried in his basement after new owners began renovations.

The Atlantic Fire Department was called to a home fire on 405 West 5th Street in Atlantic at around 4:30am Saturday morning.

The home was engulfed in flames and smoke when firefighters arrived.  All residents were reported to have escaped the home.  No cause is currently known.