A pursuit in eastern Iowa’s Scott County turned deadly Thursday afternoon. The Iowa State Patrol reports Davenport Police were pursuing a wanted suspect, 19-year old Angel Domingo Ochoa, of Davenport, when the 1998 Lincoln Continental he was driving ran a red light and hit a 2010 Chevy driven by 48-year old Lori Ann Letts, of Davenport. She died at the scene. Ochoa, and a passenger in his vehicle, 18-year old Gavin Neo Lee Bennett, of Davenport, were injured in the crash that happened at around 2:38-p.m. They were transported to Genesis East Hospital by Davenport Ambulance. None of the crash victims were wearing a seat belt.

Ochoa was treated for minor injuries and released to the custody of authorities. Bennett was transferred to the University of Iowa Hospital, where a report on his condition was not available. Ochoa was being held in the Scott County Jail on charges of homicide by vehicle, serious injury by vehicle, and serious injury by vehicle as well as failing to appear on a possession second charge.

The incident and crash remain under investigation.

The Iowa State Patrol says two people were injured during a Mills County construction zone accident, late Thursday morning. A 2004 International semi driven by 28-year old Rafael Perez Pinero, of Miami, FL., was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 within a construction near 350th Street at around 11:45-a.m., when the semi failed to stop for a line of vehicles that were stopped, and waiting for a Pilot Car. The semi hit the rear of a 2016 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 56-year old Jan Peter Schaapherder, of Clarinda, causing it to enter the ditch and rollover over.

The semi then struck the rear of a 2016 Ford Edge SUV, driven by 38-year old Jeremy Tosaya, of Elkhorn, NE., causing it to be pushed out of its lane and into another vehicle, which struck a fifth vehicle. Schaapherder was transported by Malvern Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. Tosaya was transported by Malvern Rescue to Mercy Hospital. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts.

In an update to our previous report, Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer says a Minnesota man faces four felony charges in connection with a two-county pursuit, Wednesday night. 39-year old Leroy Takye Bradley, of Minneapolis, was charged with felony Eluding, felony Possession of stolen property, and two felony counts of Possession of Firearms or ammunition by a Felon or prohibited person. Bradley was transported to Bergen-Mercy Hospital from the Adams County Hospital, after he crashed an SUV during the pursuit. A report on his condition was not released.

The incident began at around 9:24-p.m. Wednesday, when a Page County Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a silver Toyota Highlander at Highway 71 and Upland Avenue, about three-miles north of Clarinda. During the traffic stop, the Deputy had obtained information from the driver and had returned to the patrol vehicle for paperwork. A records check indicated the license plates on the vehicle had been stolen. During the initial investigation, the SUV took off from the traffic stop.

The pursuit went north on Highway 71. At the intersection with Highway 34, the SUV turned east.  An Adams County Deputy joined the pursuit and the pursuit continued into Adams County on Highway 34. Near Corning, the vehicle turned around and headed west on Highway 34. At the intersection with Ginko Road, the vehicle turned south and headed towards Brooks. Near the town of Brooks, the suspect vehicle failed to negotiate curves in the road and wrecked.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted during the pursuit by the Adams and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices, Corning Fire and Rescue, and the Iowa State Patrol.

LaVon Eblen visits with Carol Preston and Shirley Bierbaum about a fund raiser for the Cass County Museum in Griswold.  Contact Cass County Museum: 712-778-5040.

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The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports one person suffered suspected serious/incapacitating injuries during a collision that occurred a little before 8-a.m., Thursday. Authorities say a 2018 Chrysler 300 driven by 53-year old Linda Kay Riaski, of Riverton, was attempting to turn left (south) into the boat ramp off of westbound Highway 25. As she turned and failed to signal her intentions, a westbound 2008 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 55-year old Kelly Matthew Adamson, of Creston, ran into the driver’s side of the car.

Adamson was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. Damage from the collision amounted to $7,000.

A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol received notice Thursday night, that an under-cover Omaha Police Officer was following a female with known warrants. The deputy then took 25-year old Jazmine Raeanne Putnam, of Council Bluffs, into custody on a Fugitive from Justice warrant, and a charge of Interference with Official Acts. Putnam was being held without bond for another agency, and on $300 bond for the Interference charge.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) — Two long-time Iowa political foes will face off today (Friday) in a Des Moines courtroom. Former Governor Terry Branstad has flown back from his post as U.S. Ambassador to China and will be on the witness stand today. He’ll be questioned by Roxanne Conlin, the Des Moines attorney Branstad defeated in 1984 to win his first term as governor. Conlin is representing a state administrator who accuses Branstad of pressuring him to resign because he was gay. Branstad has denied the charge.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Time’s running out for Nebraska and Iowa homeowners, renters and business owners to apply for federal help to recover from this spring’s flooding. The Omaha World-Herald reports that Wednesday’s the Nebraska deadline for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Iowa deadline is July 1.

FEMA aid can cover home repairs and renovations, rental assistance, the replacement of ruined belongings and other disaster-related costs not covered by insurance. The grants do not have to be repaid. They average between $3,000 and $5,000 per household nationally. FEMA spokeswoman Deanna Frazier says that number has been higher so far in Iowa: about $11,000 per household. Frazier also says homeowners can’t expect the aid to cover all the costs of renovating or rebuilding. She says FEMA is “not designed to make you whole again.”

More than 2,300 Iowa families have applied for assistance so far, and FEMA has approved $13.4 million in payments. At least 3,000 applications have been submitted so far in Nebraska, with $22.9 million in payments approved. Some Nebraska entities have until Thursday to apply for FEMA’s public assistance aid, which reimburses cities, counties, schools, tribal governments and some nonprofits for at least 75% of costs associated with debris removal and building and infrastructure damage.

Wednesday also is the deadline to apply for loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Those loans have to be paid back, with interest. Frazier is encouraging people to apply for help. “This is not a handout,” she said. “This is your tax dollars at work.” To apply for aid, go online at DisasterAssistance.gov, call 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA app and click on “disaster resources” then “apply for assistance online.”

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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