In an update to our story this (Thursday) morning, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office says a north east Iowa man escaped injury after he crashed the semi he was driving on Interstate 80 near the Marne interchange. Officials say Cass County deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on I-80, just after 4-a.m.

The 2007 semi driven by 48-year old Robert Alan Patterson, of Aplington, was eastbound on I-80 when Patterson fell asleep at the wheel. The semi drifted to the right and struck a guardrail and passing beneath the overpass.

Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $7,500. Damage to the guardrail is estimated at $1000. Patterson was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

Police in Council Bluffs have released the identity of a man who died following a rollover accident Wednesday evening on Interstate 29. Officials say 41-year old Michael Bachmann,  of Council Bluffs, died at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, following the crash on I-29 at around 4:45-p.m., Wednesday. Bachmann was partially ejected from the vehicle as it rolled.

The crash happened at about the 55-mile marker, located between the North 35th and North 25th Street exits. Authorities suspect speed and alcohol were factors in the crash.

Northbound traffic on I-29 was blocked at North 35th Street. All lanes were open again by 7:20 p.m.

Friday night’s drawing for the Mega Millions lottery game will be for an estimated $400 million. Mary Neubauer, spokesperson for the Iowa Lottery, says “It’s the second largest jackpot in the history of the Mega Millions game and it’s number five on the list of the world’s largest jackpots.” There was no jackpot winner in Tuesday’s drawing, meaning a winner tomorrow (Friday) could choose a $400 million annuity or a cash option of just over $216 million. A Mega Millions jackpot hasn’t been won since October 1st.

The game is offered in 43 states. A lot of Iowans will be buying tickets for the drawing, which falls on a Friday the 13th, which some might associate with bad luck. “We’re choosing to think of this Friday as ‘lucky Friday the 13th,'” Neubauer says. She also notes that big lottery jackpots have become somewhat of a tradition around the holidays.  “This is the fourth year in row where there has been a big jackpot at holiday time. Obviously, we’re not planning that out, that’s just how it’s happened,” Neubauer says. “It’s just interesting that on top of the holiday rush, we’re adding the jackpot mania in there too.”

Although there wasn’t a single ticket matching all five numbers in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing, more than 37-thousand (37,000) tickets purchase in Iowa won prizes. “Those ranged from just $1 for matching the Mega Ball by itself — up to $5,000 with those folks matched four of the first five numbers,” Neubauer said.

Ticket sales for Friday’s drawing end at 8:59 p.m. that day.

(Radio Iowa)