(Wapello County, Iowa) – A fiery, multi-vehicle crash late Friday evening about five-miles south of Ottumwa, resulted in two deaths and two people injured. The Iowa State Patrol late Saturday night said the crash on northbound Highway 63, north of 25th Street, occurred at around 8-p.m., Friday.

Officials say a 2021 Jeep Renegade driven by 49-year-old Lora L. Sprouse, of Bloomfield, was stopped at a red light being used as a temporary traffic control device for one-lane bridge work. A 2021 GMC pickup driven by 36-year-old Dennis L. Hagedorn, of Kirksville, MO., was stopped behind the Jeep.

A 2018 Chevy Equinox driven by 68-year-old Steven R. Hinebaugh, of Ottumwa, was slowing to a stop behind the pickup, when a 2019 International semi tractor-trailer driven by 22-year-old Reid J. Hilpipre, of Pocahontas (IA), failed to stop. The semi struck the rear of the Chevy, causing a chain-reaction collision.

The pickup, Chevy and semi ended up in the east ditch, and became fully engulfed in flames. The Patrol reports Steven Hinebaugh and his passenger, 65-year-old Brenda K. Hinebaugh, of Ottumwa, died in the crash. Hagedorn, Hilpipre and Sprouse were injured. They were transported by ambulance to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center.

The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and Fire.