DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) – An Iowa man is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 22, charged with three counts of vehicular homicide in northeast Nebraska. Forty-five-year-old Christopher Cox,  of Council Bluffs, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Dakota City courtroom. Authorities say Cox’s car ran off U.S. Highway 20 west of Jackson on Thursday and struck a concrete creek barrier. He told officers he swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

Two of his passengers died at the scene: 57-year-old Connie Fauzae and 9-year-old Espinoza Lara, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa. A third passenger died later at a Sioux City, Iowa, hospital: 10-year-old Jose Lara, also of Council Bluffs. Cox was treated for minor injuries.

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SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say docks were damaged and trees toppled by thunderstorms that passed through Iowa’s Great Lakes region in the northwest portion of the state, spawning a weak tornado. The Sioux City Journal says no injuries have been reported from Tuesday’s storms.

Philip Schumacher of the National Weather Service said Wednesday the tornado was spotted a little after 2:20 p.m., seven miles south of Lake Park in Dickinson County. He says it caused no damage. The twister was rated EF-0, with winds ranging from 65 to 85 mph.

Elsewhere, straight-line winds reaching 65 mph knocked down trees and power lines. Spirit Lake Fire Chief Pat Daly says a trailer at Center Lake lost its roof and says there were reports of boats flipped over and docks damaged.

The Creston Police Department reports a Ringgold County man was arrested Tuesday evening on two Ringgold County warrants for Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse – Bodily Injury, False Imprisonment, Trespass – injury or damage greater than $200, and Theft in the 4th degree. 24-year old Mason Reilly, of Mt. Ayr, was taken into custody at a residence in the 500 block of N. Taylor Street, in Creston, at around 5:45-p.m. He was transferred to the custody of Ringgold County authorities.

Later that same evening, 40-year old Carrie Porter, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC) on a charge of Simple Assault. Porter was subsequently released on a promise to appear later, in court.

And, at around 10-a.m. Tuesday, Creston Police arrested 41-year old Dennis Smith at the Union County LEC for Probation Violation, and Failure to Appear on an original charge of 5th degree Theft. Smith was later released on $2,000 bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Tuesday, reported two, recent arrests. On Monday, 22-year old John Alexander Morehead, of Plattsmouth, NE, was arrested at the Sarpy County, NE., Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $2,500. And, on Sunday, 39-year old Edward Allan Blough, of Henderson, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday afternoon, in Stanton. At around 3:10-p.m., a 2010 Chrysler van driven by 81-year old Mansor Kia, of Stanton, was southbound on Broad Avenue. As a 2008 Chrysler Sebring driven by 17-year old Mikayla Fort, of Red Oak, was backing out of a parking space, Fort failed to see the approaching van. The car hit the van in the front passenger side, causing a total of $5,000 damage. No citations were issued.