One person has died in a fiery crash along Interstate 80 in far northeastern Cass County, this (Friday) morning. The accident happened at the 72-mile marker. Firefighters from Anita, Adair and Wiota responded to the scene at around 10:30-a.m. Anita Fire Chief Duane Murphy told KJAN News  the vehicle was traveling on Interstate 80 when it went off the road between two overhead bridges to 770th Street and landed next to a guardrail, off to the side of 770th.

The vehicle crashed and erupted into flames, trapping the victim inside. Murphy said it was impossible to tell what kind of vehicle it was, because the damage was so extensive. Authorities say it may have been a rental car. The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Pattee put his EMT training to good use Thursday morning, when he delivered a baby born to a couple from eastern Cass County. Pott. County Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News the event happened at around 10:30-a.m. Danker says a husband and wife were on there way to the hospital in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. As Deputy Pattee arrived on the scene next to a bank off of Highway 92 in Carson. He was able to assist in the delivery of the baby which happened just moments after the deputy’s arrival. Pattee kept the baby from aspirating, wrapped the baby in a towel and used a shoe string to cut the umbilical cord. The mother and baby were then transported by Carson Fire and Rescue to the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The parents were identified as Clarke and Rebeka Gerlock, of Cumberland. The newborn daughter, Bethany, weighed 8-pounds, 15-ounces, and is 21-1/2 inches long. The little girl will join her three other siblings at home, when mom and daughter are released from the hospital.

Deputy Pattee and Bethany share one thing in common. They were both born on August 30^th. He was celebrating his 33^rd birthday the day Bethany was born. Sheriff Danker said Deputy Pattee did a great job and exemplifies the level of professionalism people in law enforcement exhibit, but is rarely recognized.