Two Neola residents and a woman from Council Bluffs were injured during a three-vehicle collision Sunday evening on Interstate 80, near Avoca. The Iowa State Patrol says 55-year old Debora Masker and 58-year old Robert Masker, both of Neola, and 53-year old Maureen Harvey, of Council Bluffs, suffered minor injuries during the collision, which happened at around 6:35-p.m. on I-80 westbound, at the 44-mile marker. The crash occurred as vehicles were merging into the right lane due at a bridge construction zone.

The patrol reports a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by Deborah Masker, was stopped in a line of traffic when the car was rear-ended by a 2004 Ford F-150 pickup, driven by Maureen Harvey. After the initial collision, the pickup rolled on its side, and the car was pushed forward during the impact, into the rear of a 2008Chevy truck, driven by 20-year old David Feuerhelm, of Cedar Rapids.

The Maskers were transported by Walnut Rescue to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan, while Maureen Harvey was transported to the same facility, by Avoca Rescue. The crash and subsequent investigation resulted in traffic being detoured around the site for a little more than two-hours.

Patrol Sgt. Bryan Michelsen told KJAN News accidents such as the one which occurred Sunday night are becoming more and more frequent, because motorists aren’t exercising common sense and courtesies. He says the Patrol has seen several incidents on eastbound I-80. Michelson says drivers need to heed the construction sign warnings about one-lane traffic ahead, and merge earlier, in order to avoid road rage incidents, or risk causing accidents.