(Dexter, Iowa) – The Iowa State Patrol has released the identity of a pedestrian who was struck and killed while walking on Interstate 80 south of Dexter in Madison County, Thursday morning. Authorities say there were two pedestrians walking along I-80 westbound near mile marker 98 at around 7-a.m., when one of them – 45-year-old Mandy Wendland, of Omaha, NE – entered the traveled portion of the interstate, into the path of a 2020 Ford Transit van and was struck.

Wendland came to rest in the north ditch west where she was struck. The van, driven by 25-year-old Mercedes Gambrall, of Grimes, stopped on the north shoulder of the west bound lanes, west of the impact site. Mandy Wendland died at the scene.