MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — On Friday, May 22, around 3:45pm, the DNR was notified of a person who had fallen on a trail at Palisades-Kepler State Park and had lacerations to his head. Four hikers came upon 32-year old Brian Jungen, of Coralville, along Cedar Cliff Trail. Jungen was lying along the trail near a bench and was bleeding from lacerations on his head. The hikers were able to speak briefly with the victim before he blacked out.

The hikers called 911 and first responders from Mount Vernon and Lisbon, as well as Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies and DNR park rangers responded to the scene. When they arrived on scene, they were not able to detect a pulse from Jungen and began immediate medical attention. Jungen was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNR park rangers continue to investigate this incident.

DES MOINES, Iowa (The Des Moines Register) — Police say a teen who was shot in the neck at a home over the weekend has died from his injuries. The Des Moines Register reports that the shooting happened Saturday afternoon in a home just north of the city’s downtown. Police say 17-year-old Ishmael Muhammad was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. Police say people in the house initially told officers that Muhammad had shown up with a gunshot wound. But investigators determined that a small group of teens that included Muhammad were in a house when a handgun was accidentally fired and hit Muhammad. A 16-year-old has been charged as a juvenile with involuntary manslaughter and other counts.

An accident that took place at around 2:30-a.m. Sunday in Madison County, claimed the life of a young Winterset man and resulted in injuries to a Man from Peru. The Iowa State Patrol says a 1997 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 18-year old Memphis Issac Kincade Pickett, of Winterset, was in the process of eluding a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy at a high rate of speed, when the pickup failed to negotiate a curve to the left in the 1800 block of Wind Wood Trail (A gravel road). The vehicle left the road and entered  a ditch, where it crashed into trees and a wire fence.

Kincade-Pickett died at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt. His passenger, 21-year old Quentin Lane Siefkas, of Peru, who was wearing a seat belt, was trapped and eventually freed by mechanical means. Siefkas was transported by Madison County EMS to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. The Patrol says alcohol is believed to be a factor in both the pursuit and crash.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A 35-year-old Waterloo husband and father is recovering after nearly dying last month of the coronavirus. Doctors at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics warned his family last month that Elvir Alicajic was likely within hours of succumbing to the virus. But after plasma and dialysis treatments, Alicajic’s condition improved and he soon woke up from a medical coma.

Alicajic has been transferred to Allen Hospital in Waterloo, where he is regaining the ability to walk on his own and hopes to leave soon. Alicajic’s friend and neighbor says the experience has been shocking and scary for everyone involved, and left the family with “outrageous” medical expenses.

The State of Iowa reports (as of 10-a.m. Sunday), there were 263 additional positive cases of COVID-19. Cass County has 11 positive cases, one more than reported Saturday. One of those individuals (as previously mentioned) has recovered. Statewide, 489,433 assessments have been completed, and 127, 854 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. 17,213 tested positive (13.5%), 110,358 tested negative. The number of Iowans who have recovered from the virus numbered 9,285 as of the latest data. Five more people have died from the virus, for a total of 449. The dates of these confirmed COVID related deaths were from May 19 to May 23. (Keep in mind, these figures change, as results are included in the State COVID-19 dashboard https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/.)

Around the area, here are the current (as of 10-a.m., 5/24) cases of positive test results and (number of recovered): Adair County: 8 (3); Adams County: 5 (1); Audubon County: 11 (9); Guthrie County: 42 (29); Montgomery County: 6 (5); Shelby County: 31 (24) and Pottawattamie County: 208 (109).

In RMCC Region 4 (Southwest/western Iowa), seven people are hospitalized for COVID-19, two are in an ICU, and one person was admitted to a hospital. Across the State, the number of patients who are hospitalized due to the virus (as of this posting) is 363.  114 COVID-19 patients were in an ICU. 34 were admitted.

Statewide, LTC facility outbreaks are down one, to 36. The number of patients and staff at those facilities who have died number 238. The number of patients/staff have recovered is 662, and 1,529 have tested positive.

The COVID-19 dashboard contains updated information throughout the day, but due to planned maintenance this weekend, the Case Counts Dashboard will not reflect accurate counts during the maintenance period.  All Case Counts will be brought up to date by 6:00 am Monday, May 25th.

No injuries were reported following a collision at around 6:36-p.m. Saturday, in Red Oak. Authorities say the accident happened at the intersection of E. Summit Street and Sunnyslope Drive. A 2015 Nissan Versa driven by 17-year old Alissa Rice, of Red Oak, was stopped on Summit Street facing east, waiting to turn north onto Sunny Slope Drive, when a 1999 Chevy Silverado driven by 30-year old Megan Waltz, of Lorimor, struck the Nissan from behind. Waltz told Police she didn’t see Rice’ car.

Waltz was cited for Following too Close. Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000, with the Nissan being a total loss. Red Oak Police were assisted at the scene by Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Red Oak Rescue, and Red Oak Fire Department.

Red Oak Police, Saturday evening, arrested a Villisca man on a Montgomery County warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 57-year old Bruce Warren Fitzwater was taken into custody at 106 W. Coolbaugh Street at around 6:05-p.m., and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $500 cash bond.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports an investigation resulted in the arrest Saturday morning of two people for alleged sex crimes. 22-year old Austin Thompson, of Prescott, was taken into custody at around 8:45-a.m. on felony charges that include: Sexual Abuse in the 1st Degree; Assault with intent to commit sexual abuse; and Sexual Exploitation of  Minor. Thompson was being held in the Adams County Jail while awaiting an appearance before a Magistrate.

At around 1:10-p.m. Saturday, Deputies arrested 28-year old Clara Winfrey, also of Prescott, on the same Felony charges. She was also being held in the Adams County Jail while awaiting an appearance before a Magistrate.

The State of Iowa reports (as of 4-a.m. Sunday), Cass County has 11 positive cases of COVID-19, one more than reported Saturday. One of those individuals (as previously mentioned) has recovered. Statewide, 489,433 assessments have been completed, and 126, 389 Iowans have been tested for COVID-19. 17,065 tested positive (13.5%), 109,038 tested negative. The number of Iowans who have recovered from the virus numbered 9,263 as of the latest data. Five more people have died from the virus, for a total of 449. (Keep in mind, these figures change, as results are included in the State COVID-10 dashboard https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/.)

Around the area, here are the current (as of 4-a.m., 5/24) cases of positive test results and (number of recovered):

Adair County: 7 (3); Adams County: 4 (1); Audubon County: 11 (9); Guthrie County: 42 (29); Montgomery County: 6 (5); Shelby County: 30 (24) and Pottawattamie County: 208 (109).

In RMCC Region 4 (Southwest/western Iowa), six people are hospitalized for COVID-19, two are in an ICU, and one person was admitted to a hospital since the last report. Across the State, the number of patients who are hospitalized due to the virus (as of this posting) is 362.  111 COVID-19 patients were in an ICU. 26 were admitted.

Statewide, LTC facility outbreaks are down one, to 36. The number of patients and staff at those facilities who have died number 238. The number of patients/staff have recovered is 661, and 1,529 have tested positive.

The COVID-19 dashboard contains updated information throughout the day, but due to planned maintenance this weekend, the Case Counts Dashboard will not reflect accurate counts during the maintenance period.  All Case Counts will be brought up to date by 6:00 am Monday, May 25th.

A head-on collision between a pickup and a bicycle in southern Iowa’s Lucas County has claimed the life of a male child. The Iowa State Patrol reports the accident happened at around 3:30-p.m. Saturday, in Russell. Authorities say a 2004 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 70-year old Patrick Conway, of Russell, was traveling west on W. Smith Street, when the collision occurred.

The child died at the scene. The Patrol says alcohol and excessive speed have been ruled out as factors in the collision, which remained under investigation.