(Atlantic, Iowa) – A collision early this (Friday) afternoon northeast of Atlantic claimed three lives and left two others injured. The crash on Highway 71 and Troublesome Creek Road happened at around 12:50-p.m.  According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 1999 Ford F-350 pickup driven by 43-year-old Micheal Adam Warnaca, of Exira, was traveling north on Highway 71 and a 2001 Toyota Camry driven by 46-year-old Erick William Kerkman, of North Liberty, was traveling southbound.

For reasons unknown, near the intersection of Troublesome Creek Road, the pickup crossed the center line of the Highway and struck the Camry head-on. The car came to rest in the west ditch, facing west. The pickup rolled onto its passenger side and came to rest on the west shoulder, facing west.

Michael Warnaca, Erick Kerkman and a 15-year-old female passenger in the Camry, from North Liberty, died at the scene. A 10-year-old male from Exira and a 12-year old male from North Liberty, were injured in the collision. The 10-year-old was transported by Cass EMS to Cass Health in Atlantic, while the 12-year old was transported by Cass EMS to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha

Warnaca and his 10-year-old passenger were not wearing their seat belts. Kerkman, the 15-year-old female and the 12-year-old, were wearing their seat belts. Highway 71 was blocked in both directions for about 3 1/2 hours, while the crash remained under investigation, and the vehicles and debris were removed.

The accident remains under investigation.