Police in Council Bluffs police say a 70-year-old dementia patient missing since late last night  has been found safe inside a vehicle a few blocks away from his home. Phillip Kephart, who has Alzheimer’s disease, was reported missing late Thursday night by his wife.

Council Bluffs police and Omaha Police Department’s helicopter searched for the man throughout the night and early this morning.  A neighbor found him inside their vehicle at around 7:10-a.m. in the 2500 block of South 13th Street.

Kephart was conscious and alert when he was discovered. He was taken to Mercy Hospital to be treated for hypthermia, but was otherwise in stable condition and expected to be released sometime today (Friday). Officials thanked the media for getting the word out about Kephart’s disappearance. They say numerous people were out checking their properties this morning as a result of the coverage, in an effort to find the man.

An accident on eastbound Interstate 80 in Cass County this morning has resulted in one person trapped, an unknown number of injuries and a temporary blockage of the eastbound lanes.

Photo courtesy Mike Kennon, Cass Co. Emergency Mgmt. Agy.

According to dispatch reports, Atlantic Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance were called to the 61.5-mile marker on I-80 eastbound (about 1.5 miles east of the Highway 71 exit), where a semi rear-ended another semi. The crash occurred at around 6:45-a.m.

One of semi driver was reportedly trapped in the cab of his truck. It’s not known what either truck was carrying, or if there were hazardous materials on-board. Eastbound traffic was temporarily being rerouted south into Wiota and then east before returning north to I-80. No other information is currently available.

A traffic stop Thursday evening in Montgomery County resulted in the arrest of a Council Bluffs man. Sheriff’s officials say 20-year old Cody Doss was arrested at around 6:20-p.m. and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine.  Doss was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, and held on $1,000 bond.

And, Shaun Akers, of Sidney, IA, was arrested at around 7-p.m., Thursday. Akers was taken into custody on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd degree. He was brought the the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on $5,000 bond.

Police in Council Bluffs are asking for your help in finding a 70-year old man who disappeared sometime late Thursday night or early this (Friday) morning.

Phillip J. Kephart (C.B. Police Dept. photo)

Phillip J. Kephart, who has Alzheimer’s Disease, walked away from his Council Bluffs home and remains missing. Kephart is 5-feet, 9-inches tall, 175-pounds. He has gray hair and is believed to be wearing only a red, hooded sweatshirt, jeans and one shoe.

The search for the man began at around 1:25-a.m. today, and included the use of Able 1 helicopter from the Omaha Police Department. In temperatures that hovered near zero, police were searching for the man in the area just west of Lake Manawa.

If you see a man matching the description given, call 9-1-1 or Council Bluffs Police at 712-328-4728.