The Iowa State Patrol has released the name of the woman who died in a crash that happened just before 7:45-a.m. today (Monday), on Interstate 80, between Avoca and Walnut. Authorities say a back seat passenger in a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, 50-year old Antonieta Altamirano Serrano, of Bountiful, UT., died in the crash. The driver of the car, 38-year old old Melvin Rigoberto Diaz Portillo, and his front seat passenger, 46-year old Reina Leiva De Lucero, both of Gaithersburg, MD., were injured and transported by Walnut Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, in Atlantic.

The accident happened, when a 2009 Peterbilt semi driven by 59-year old Jeffrey Charles Thomas, of Silver City, rear-ended the car, as the Hyundai was traveling slowly for reasons unknown, in the right lane. Following the collision, the car came to rest in the south ditch. Thomas was not injured in the crash.

The accident remains under investigation. Walnut Fire and Rescue, Medivac Ambulance and Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement assisted the Patrol at the crash scene.