The Iowa State Patrol says two truck drivers from California were injured when their semi slammed into the back of another semi on Interstate 80 in Cass County, Friday morning.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass Co. Emergency Mgmt. Agy.

Officials say 47-year old Ruel Pablo Quinto, and 43-year old Raymundo Refran Quinto, both of Los Angeles, CA, were transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital following the crash on I-80 eastbound at around 6:45-a.m.

The Patrol says a 2006 Freightliner semi driven by 62-year old William L. Johnson, of Monroe, WI, and a 2000 Freightliner driven by Ruel Quinto were both traveling east, with Johnson’s semi in the right lane going up a hill. Quinto’s semi was in the left lane coming up behind the first semi, when Quinto fell asleep at the wheel.

His semi crossed the center line and entered the right lane where it hit the rear of Johnson’s semi. The cab of Quinto’s semi was destroyed in the crash and both occupants were trapped. They were freed by mechanical means.