Three separate fatal crashes occurred across southeast Iowa within a span of six days last week, claiming the lives of four people in Davis, Appanoose, and Lee counties.
Davis County – March 15th
A head-on collision on Highway 2 near West Grove claimed the life of a Moulton man Saturday evening. According to a crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, a 2010 Buick Enclave driven by David Downen, 61, of Moulton was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of Highway 2 west of Ice Avenue when it collided head-on with an eastbound 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Kobi Roberts, 25, of La Plata, Missouri, at approximately 9:27 p.m.
All three occupants involved were transported to Davis County Hospital by Davis County Ambulance. Downen was pronounced dead at the hospital. A passenger in Downen’s vehicle, Jesse Smith, 56, of Unionville, Iowa, was also injured. Roberts was injured as well, though the crash report notes his seatbelt use is credited with saving his life. Downen was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Neely, with assistance from the Davis County Sheriff’s Office and ambulance.
Appanoose County – March 20th
A motorcycle rider was killed Friday afternoon following a collision at an intersection in Centerville. According to the crash report, a 2011 GMC Acadia driven by Dominick Allen Conn, 16, of Centerville was traveling northbound on South 18th Street when it turned west onto Green Street. A 2003 Yamaha XV1600 motorcycle driven by Brandon Kerr Baughman, 50, of Unionville, Missouri, was traveling southbound on South 18th Street and subsequently struck the passenger side of the GMC in the intersection at approximately 3:07 p.m.
Baughman was transported to Centerville Hospital by Centerville EMS and was pronounced dead. A passenger in the GMC, Helen Lucine Elarton, 58, of Centerville, was also injured and transported to Centerville Hospital. The crash report notes her seatbelt use is credited with saving her life.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Simpson, with assistance from multiple agencies.
Lee County – March 21st
Two people were killed Saturday night when a vehicle left the roadway and rolled over near Wever in Lee County. According to the crash report, a 2000 Lexus traveling northbound on Green Bay Road crossed the center line, entered the west ditch, struck an embankment, and came to rest in a field entrance on its roof at approximately 9:31 p.m.
Both occupants of the vehicle — a 61-year-old from Fort Madison and a 50-year-old from Wever — were killed. The Iowa State Patrol is withholding both names at this time. Neither seatbelt use prevented the fatalities in this crash, though one occupant was belted and one was not. Both were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Ankeny.
The crash was investigated by Trooper Ellison, with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Weaver Fire Department, and Lee County Ambulance.
