DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a car that crashed into a semitrailer on Interstate 80 in Adair County fell asleep at the wheel. A passenger, 17-year-old Stephanie Pathammavong, of Des Moines, was killed in the Sept. 26 accident. The patrol says the driver, 21-year-old Boby Vangkham, of South Sioux City, Neb., told investigators he was “daydreaming and fell asleep.” Vangkham lost control of the eastbound car, which ended up in the westbound lane and collided with the semi. The accident, which happened shortly before 3 p.m., closed the westbound lanes for several hours.

One person died after they were ejected from a truck that rolled over sometime late Wednesday night or early this morning, southeast of Sidney, in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say 56-year old Kim Hatten Polk, of Sidney died at the scene of the crash, which was discovered just after 6-a.m.

An investigation determined Polk was traveling south on 300^th Avenue when the GMC truck he was driving went out of control just south of 215^th Street, entered the east ditch and rolled once before coming to rest.

The Walnut City Council is scheduled to meet this evening. On their agenda is discussion with regard to: the possible installation of a stop light near the Walnut Community School, on Antique City Drive; the possible purchase of commercial property; increased landfill fees at the Pottawattamie County Transfer Station; and, the possible installation of speed bumps.

The Walnut Council will also review and possible act on approving a revised Citizen Complaint form, an annual update of the Walnut Municipal Utility Identity Theft Prevention Program, and various ordinances. Among the ordinances, are those which would amend provisions pertaining to compensation for City Council members and the Mayor, and, no parking zones.

The meeting begins at 5-p.m.

A field fire in eastern part of Harrison County destroyed approximately 25 to 30 acres of land yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. The call came from just off of Aspen Road in the hills around Dunlap at around 2:30pm. Tom Henry, Earling Fire Chief, says at least 4 fire departments were called to the scene. Henry says he believes the fire started because of a hot bearing from a combine. He says with the help of the other departments, the fire was put out before any buildings were damaged. It’s thought the land is owned by Robert Mitchell, of rural Dunlap.

(Joel McCall/KNOD-Harlan)

Authorities in western Iowa continue to investigate the shooting of a person whose body was found in a ditch along Interstate 29, in Harrison County.  Harrison County Sheriff Patrick Sears told KJAN News a Trooper was investigating a car on the side of the road on I-29 soutbound at the 76-mile marker, when  he noticed the body of  a man in the ditch.  The unidentified victim  had suffered a gunshot wound, but the sheriff would not comment on where the man was shot.  

The victim , who Sears said was from Nebraska, was transported to Alegent Health Hospital in Missouri Valley, before being flown to  Creighton University Hospital in Omaha.  While saying an investigation into the incident remains on-going, Sears said foulplay is NOT suspected.