A multiple-vehicle crash Friday afternoon on eastbound Interstate 80 near Minden, in Pottawattamie County resulted in three people being transported to the hospital and traffic brought to a standstill for hours.

Photo’s from Minden Fire & Rescue’s Facebook page

According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened at around 3:30-p.m., as two vehicles were stopped in the right lane, due to heavy traffic caused by road work at mile marker 31, where the one lane was shut down for repairs. Two other vehicles were stopped in the left lane. A 2012 Mercedes GK3 driven by 44-year old Bruce Eric Kinman, of Des Moines, was approaching at a high rate of speed. Kinman swerved left to miss the vehicles in the right lane, but hit a Chrysler 200, sending it into the median. The Mercedes then sideswiped a Hyundai SUV, causing it to lift off the ground and sideswipe a tractor-trailer before it slammed into a Honda mini-van, which then rear-ended a pickup truck.

Injured in the crash, was 40-year old Catherine H. Keylon and her passenger, 7-year old Isabel Keylon, both from Clive (Iowa), and 50-year old Jane M. Gerolimetto, of Ridgetown, Ontario, Canada. Catherine and Isabel Keylon were transported by Minden Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Gerolimetto was taken to the same hospital by Neola Rescue. The injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

The Mercedes, Chrysler, Honda Odyssey mini-van and GMC Sierra pickup were totaled in the crash. The SUV sustained moderate damage.

A Council Bluffs man wanted for multiple crimes including attempting to run over a police officer, was arrested late Friday evening, in Omaha. Council Bluffs Police say officers with the Omaha Police Department, acting on a tip, found 27-year old Adam Thomas at a residence in the 2400 block of S. 47th in Omaha, at around 5:30-p.m.  Thomas was taken into custody without incident as he was leaving the home.

Authorities say Thomas was with another man at the time. Both men were brought in for questioning. A stolen Nissan Murano belonging to Thomas’ sister was recovered at the residence he was apprehended. Inside the SUV, authorities found two 9-mm handguns, a mini 14, 223-caliber semi-automatic rifle, and a large amount of ammunition.  The weapons were determined to have been stolen out of Omaha.

Thomas was found to be in possession of Methamphetamine.  He was booked into Douglas County, NE., Jail on Nebraska felony charges that include: Possession of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person; Burglary, and 3 counts of Possession of Stolen Firearms.

Thomas was also being held for extradition to Iowa on a warrant for Attempted Murder, Theft 1st Degree, Theft by Deception, and Escape from Custody. His crime spree began on Wednesday, October 14th when he was arrested for fraud and later escaped custody from a patrol car. The stolen pickup he was driving struck an officer as Thomas was fleeing the seen. The unidentified officer fired shots at the pickup during the incident. The pickup was recovered near Thomas’ mother’s residence in rural Underwood. Surveillance video showed Thomas taking his sister’s SUV from the area shortly thereafter.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is expected to hold a news conference Tuesday, October 20th, to release any additional information they might have in the case.

Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad is set to hold several Town Hall meetings across the state this coming week. One of the meetings takes place 2:30-p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 20th), at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Building (102 Chestnut Street), in Atlantic. The event is open to members of the public.

Governor Terry Branstad has scheduled a special election to fill the House District 21 seat left open by the death of longtime lawmaker Jack Drake. Branstad announced Friday that an election would be held on Dec. 8. The district in southwest Iowa includes Adams and Union counties and parts of Cass and Pottawattamie counties.

Drake, a Republican, was first elected to the House in 1992. He died of natural causes on Sunday at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic. Secretary of State Paul Pate announced the filing deadline for candidates is November 13th at 5 p.m.