Scene of Wednesday's fatal crash (Photo Credit: Harlan Tribune)

(final update 3:45-p.m. Wed.)  The Iowa State Patrol has released the names of the victims who died Wednesday morning in a crash about four-miles south of Harlan, on Highway 59. They were identified as 68-year old Marcella and 71-year old Robert Schwery, both of Panama, and 26-year old Christina Cotant, of Avoca. The Patrol says a 1999 Cadillac Deville driven by Marcella Schwery was traveling south on Highway 59 at around 10:20-a.m., when the vehicle went around a State Patrol cruiser, which was parked on the shoulder of the road. Schwery’s car crossed the center line of the road and collided head-on with a northbound 2008 Ford Escape, driven by Cotant.

After the impact, the Cadillac spun around and collided with an unoccupied 2008 Ford Crown Victoria State Patrol cruiser. The troopers had been in the process of working a traffic stop, their vehicles’ emergency lights on, when the crash occurred. Officials say after the crash, the SUV entered the east ditch. Neither of the troopers, nor those in the vehicle they stopped, were injured.

The Patrol says all of the crash three victims died at the scene. Marcella Schwery and Christina Cotant were wearing their seatbelts, but Robert Schwery was not.