March 28, 2024

Collision near Colfax leaves one dead, two injured

Vehicle drifted over center line on County Road F48, report says

A collision on County Road F48 Thursday afternoon resulted in one fatality and two more women were injured.

The Iowa State Patrol said Joanne Hunter, 83, of Newton, was killed when the Buick Century she was driving westbound on F48 was struck by a Chevy Cruze, driven by Mandy Matlock, 32, of Prairie City. The report said Matlock's vehicle appeared to have crossed the center line of the road.

Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner. A passenger, Betty Johnson, 91, was taken to Skiff Medical Center in Newton by ambulance, although her condition wasn't immediately available.

Matlock was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. An infant child who was with her was restrained in the back seat, and wasn't injured.

The collision happened at about 3:50 p.m. along the stretch of F48 that is between South League Road and West 92nd Street South. A one-mile section of F48 was closed to traffic for several hours as the State Patrol investigated the crash.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com.