(Indianola, Iowa) – An incident during the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Saturday, resulted in several people being injured. According to reports, a hot-air balloon involved in the event struck as power line. The incident happened at around 5-a.m. Officials with the Balloon Classic said the pilot and three others were in the basket at the time. They were each treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

In a lead-up to the Classic that took place last Monday, one balloon pilot made a landing in a Des Moines backyard. The balloon landed in the 1700 block of Jefferson Avenue. The pilot told KCCI the landing was “Tight but successful.” No one was injured. 22 balloons filled the air that day, others experienced off-course landings, including in a doctor’s office parking lot and a golf course.

The pilot who made a controlled landing in the backyard, blamed a shift in winds for his incident.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Department of Criminal Investigation was requested to assist the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Saturday, following an Officer-involved shooting incident. Officials say at approximately 3:52 a.m., Saturday, Cedar Rapids Police officers conducted a vehicle stop for erratic driving in the 2200 block of Glass Road NE.

The driver of the vehicle brandished a firearm and gunfire was exchanged between the driver and two Cedar Rapids police officers. The driver sustained gunshot injures and is currently being treated at the University of Iowa Hospital.  The police officers were not injured.

The name of the injured subject was not immediately released, pending notification of family.  The names of the police officers were also not immediately released.

(Red Oak, Iowa) –  Firefighters in Red Oak were called to a structure fire early this (Sunday) morning, in Red Oak.  Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hamman reports crews were dispatched a little after 1:10-a.m. to the Bunge Corporation at 2049 Fernwood Ave., for a reported fire within the structure of the building.

Upon arrival of law enforcement and fire officials, it was determined that the fire was located within the northeast dryer stack on the exterior portion of the building. Crews on scene commenced aerial operations to extinguish the dryer stack fire and worked with onsite maintenance to ensure all fire was extinguished. (All photos show are courtesy of Brian Hamman)

Hamman says all fire and water damaged was confined to the outside dryer stack with no damage to the interior portion of the building. The fire was located in the same dryer stack as previous fires, most recently as March 22, 2022. No injuries to onsite staff or firefighters on scene. Crews were on scene for roughly two hours.

The Red Oak Fire Department was assisted by the Red Oak Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Communication.

(Tingley, Iowa) – Authorities in Ringgold County report a minor driver rolled the pickup truck he was driving Thursday evening, around Tingley, causing injuries to the driver and one of two passengers. The Sheriff’s Office said Saturday (Today), the young person was driving a 2003 Ford F-150 at around 7:42-p.m. in a reckless manner,  and without adult supervision. The pickup went out of control while the driver allegedly tried to “drift” a corner, on 240th Avenue (a gravel road), leaving Tingley.

The pickup ran off the road to the west in an uncontrolled skid before coming into contact with the ditch and flipped the vehicle onto its roof, and coming to rest on the edge of a cornfield. The vehicle was rolled over onto the driver’s side by the time law enforcement and EMS arrived. The unidentified driver and a passenger were rushed to the Ringgold County Hospital for treatment of their injuries. The driver faces charges that include Reckless Driving and Violation of an Instruction Permit.

The pickup was later rolled over and towed from the scene.

(Kensett, Iowa) – A collision late Friday night in northern Iowa’s Worth County, claimed two lives, including that of a child, and resulted in a third person being injured. The Iowa State Patrol this (Saturday) afternoon, reported that a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica driven by 24-year-old Maggie Harvey, of Northwood (IA), was northbound on Highway 65 at around 10:20-p.m., when the minivan crossed the center line of the road and struck a southbound 2002 Toyota Avalon, head-on.

After the vehicles collided, the Toyota came to rest in the west ditch. The van rolled over and came to rest on its top in the middle of the road. A 1999 International semi driven by 62-year-old Dennis Stoneking, of Northwood, then struck the van, causing it to spin on the roadway and come to rest in the west ditch.

The driver of the Toyota, 45-year-old John Hinderscheid, of Albert Lea, MN, died at the scene, along with a passenger in the mini-van, three-year-old Thielen Fausnaugh, of Northwood. The child was not buckled into a child safety seat. The Patrol said both drivers were wearing their seat belts. All three crash victims were transported by Mason City Ambulance to Mercy Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

Assisting the Patrol at the scene, was the Worth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa DOT MVE, Kensett Fire Department, Northwood Fire/Rescue, & Mason City EMS.