(Benton County, Iowa) – Two people died Saturday afternoon during a collision in eastern Iowa between a UTV and a pickup truck. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2013 Polaris Ranger UTV and a 2001 Dodge RAM 1500 pickup, were both traveling eastbound 68th Avenue, southeast of Vinton. When the pickup, driven by 74-year-old Francis R. Baldus, of Jewell, went to pass the UTV, the operator of the Utility Terrain Vehicle made a left turn, in front of the pickup.

The truck struck the UTV, causing it to roll into the north ditch. Two occupants of the UTV were ejected and died at the scene. They were not wearing seat belts. The pickup came to rest on the north shoulder of the road. The victims in the crash were identified as 76-year-old William C. Geater, and 60-year-old Mary F. McElhinney, both of Vinton. It’s not clear which of the individuals in the UTV were in control of the machine at the time of the collision.

The accident, which happened at around 4:04-p.m., Saturday, remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – A Ivy League professor is warning a proposed railroad merger that would increase train traffic through parts of eastern Iowa poses an environmental threat. Canadian Pacific is asking federal officials to approve its acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway. It would establish a rail line that stretches from Canada to Mexico. Mike Hepler, an engineering professor at Princeton, says “This rail is likely to carry a lot, an increased number of holding tar sands oils and bitumen,” Hepler says. “And again, these are going to be moving through the towns that carry risks to health, the environment.” Tar sands are a combination of sand, clay, water and bitumen. Bitumen is the black oil that’s sticky, like molasses.

Hepler says derailments and spills are likely to increase as train traffic increases. “Given a spark, given a flame — a fire source, this also presents an issue for air quality,” Hepler says, “and the quality for the environment, the soil, the waters that surround the trains.” The initial environmental assessment from the Surface Transportation Board concludes there is a small risk increased train traffic would lead to derailments and hazardous material spills along the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern route.

Hepler says it’s strange that the agency considers noise to be the major environmental impact of increased train traffic. Hepler made his comments during a recent public hearing about the merger.

Bellevue, Iowa – Authorities in eastern Iowa report during the early morning hours of October 9, 2022, Jackson County resident, Christopher Prichard was taken into custody without incident by law enforcement officials. He was arrested on warrants issued on September 30, 2022 for:  Adjudicated Charge(s) – Violation of No Contact Order/Protective Order-Contempt. Original Charge(s) – Violation of No Contact/Protection Order Contempt. Prichard is currently being housed in the Jackson County Sheriffs’ jail.

The investigation into the death of Angela Prichard is ongoing. An autopsy by the Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner is scheduled for today. No further information will be released at this time.

(Previous version follows)

Bellevue, Iowa – On October 8, 2022 at approximately 7:49 AM, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call at the Mississippi Ridge Kennels located at 31821 Highway 52 Bellevue, Iowa. Upon arrival, law enforcement found Angela Prichard, age 55, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Law Enforcement is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Christopher Prichard, a subject of interest in the investigation. Christopher Prichard is a white male, approximately 5’07” and weighs approximately 145 pounds. Clothing and vehicle description is unknown.

Photo of Richard Prichard

If the public sees this individual, use caution and do not approach. The public is advised to call  911, the Jackson County Dispatch Center (319)-652-3312 or the Cedar Rapids State Radio (319)-396-4414.

This is a joint investigation conducted by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Bellevue Police Department and the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, US Fish and Wildlife and the Jackson County Conservation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A traffic stop Friday night west of Red Oak resulted in the arrest on a drug charge, of a man from Mills County. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Highway 34 at Evergreen Avenue, at around 9:52-p.m.  Upon investigation, Deputies arrested 58-year-old Michael David Longcor, of Henderson, for Possession of Methamphetamine/2nd offense. Longcor was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.