(Updated 7/17) — Two separate accidents over the past few days, left a total of two people dead and seven more injured. The Iowa State Patrol says the latest happened at around 10:42-p.m. Saturday, in central Iowa’s Tama County. Officials say a 2010 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 74-year old David M. Keidel, of Cedar Falls, was traveling north on High 21 and entered a bridge construction zone, where the highway was reduced to one lane. A 2011 Cadillac DTS driven by 81-year old Donald G. Selken, of Vinton, was southbound on Highway 21 in the construction zone. The vehicles collided head-on.

Selken who wore a seat belt, died in the crash. Keidel, and a passenger in Selken’s car, 73-year old Lois M. Schmitt, of Vinton. were injured in the crash and transported by ambulance to Covenant Hospital. Both were wearing their seat belts. The accident remains under investigation.

The other accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Friday, in southeast Iowa’ Van Buren County. The State Patrol says a 2005 Mercury Mariner SUV driven 26-year Mindy Rae Johnson, of Burlington, was eastbound on Highway 2, when it made contact with the gravel shoulder, causing Johnson to over-correct and lose control of SUV. The vehicle entered the north ditch and rolled into a corn field. Johnson died at the scene. An adult passenger, 36-year old April Irene Maul, of Burlington, and five children in the vehicle were injured. Two of them — a 3-year old and a 5-year old — were transported to the Van Buren County Hospital by ambulance. The other three children were eight years of age, each.