Police in Council Bluffs reported late Wednesday night that two people were seriously injured during a crash earlier that evening on the South Expressway. Bluffs Police Sgt. Darren Budd says just before 7-p.m., a 1998 Ford Mustang driven by MacKenzie Jones, of Council Bluffs, was traveling southbound and was preparing to turn left onto 35th Avenue. A 2007 Chevy Tahoe driven by 33-year old Lynsi Perkins, of Council Bluffs, was traveling northbound on the South Expressway.

Several witnesses and Perkins said both drivers had a green light. There is a protected left turn arrow for southbound traffic, but the arrow was not active according to witnesses. The SUV hit the passenger side of the Mustang with such force, that two passengers in the vehicle, 16-year old Ellen Campbell and 13-year old Jane Campbell, both of Treynor, suffered serious injuries, with Ellen Campbell’s injuries deemed to be critical.

Both teens required extrication by the Council Bluffs Fire Department. They were transported to the UNMC for treatment. Mackenzie Jones was uninjured. Lynsi Perkins suffered minor injuries during the crash, and her minor passengers were not believed to be injured.

Officials say there appears to have been NO indications speed or impairment contributed to the crash. Jones, however, was cited for Improper Turning Movements. The Council Bluffs Police Traffic Unit will be conducting a follow up investigation into the crash.

(Updated at 6:22-a.m. to clarify 4 injuries as earlier reported)

The Iowa State Patrol early this (Thursday) morning, updated information concerning a crash Wednesday evening on Highway 92 in Adair County, that injured four people.  Officials say several eastbound vehicles in a line of traffic were stopped in a construction zone at around 6-p.m., waiting for the Pilot car to return, when a 2004 Buick Park Avenue driven by 34-year old Brian Jorge Ford, of Creston, rear-ended a 2013 Ford F-150 pickup, driven by 43-year old Todd Nothwehr, of Clarinda. His wife, 42-year old Lara Nothwehr, was a passenger in the vehicle.

Photos submitted to KJAN. Click on photo to enlarge

The force of the impact caused the pickup to rear-end a 2012 Ford F-150, driven by 31-year old Danielle Buresh, of Bridgewater, which rear-ended another vehicle.  All four vehicles came to rest on the road, blocking traffic in both directions for several hours.

Lara and Todd Nothwehr were treated at the Cass County Memorial hospital and have since been released. There was no word on the conditions of the other two victims, but authorities had said late Wednesday evening, that the injuries did not appear to be life threatening, and that all occupants had been wearing their seat belts. Airbags also deployed in the vehicles, limiting the extent of injuries.

Assisting at the scene were deputies with the Cass and Adair County Sheriff’s Offices.

Four people were injured in a crash on Highway 92 Wednesday evening, just across the Cass-Adair County line, in Adair County. Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at around 6:18-p.m.

Photos submitted to KJAN. (Click on photos to enlarge)

One person was reportedly trapped in a vehicle. Three people were transported by two separate ambulances, to the Cass County Memorial Hospital. One other person was flown by LifeNet helicopter in Clarinda to the hospital. According to authorities, the injuries did not appear to have been life threatening. The victims wore their seat belts, and airbags deployed in the vehicles.
The road was completely blocked while crews removed the injured and the wreckage. Additional details are currently unavailable.

The Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company today (Wednesday), announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with The Coca-Cola Company for expanded territory rights. The bottler will assume territories in Iowa and southern Minnesota.  Expected transition dates are subject to the parties reaching Definitive Agreements. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Kirk Tyler, President, Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company, said in a press release “We look forward to completing the transition work with The Coca-Cola Company.  Leveraging the new operating model will enable us to continue serving the needs of our consumers and customers effectively.”

Sandy Douglas, President Coca-Cola North America at the Coca Cola Company, says “We have made significant progress toward the implementation of our 21^st Century Beverage Partnership Model in the U.S., which continues to strengthen our franchise system. As we continue to evolve our partnership model for growth Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company brings deep local knowledge and has demonstrated both outstanding commercial capabilities and consistent, sustainable success within their communities. Together we continue to transform our U.S. business and move closer to achieving our 2020 Vision.”

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company and The Coca-Cola Company will work collaboratively to implement key elements of the 21^st Century Beverage Partnership Model including:

• More rational and contiguous operating territories
• A grant of exclusive territory rights and the sale by Coca-Cola Refreshments (CCR) of distribution assets and cold drink equipment
• An improved, more integrated information technology platform
• A new beverage agreement that supports the evolving operating model.

Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been in business for over 100 years, producing and delivering Coca-Cola brands to Central and Southwest Iowa.  Owned and operated by the Tyler family, and headquartered in Atlantic, the company has a distribution center in Waukee.  Together, the two facilities employ over 180 individuals