A driver being pursued by police in Iowa for kidnapping a toddler in Nebraska caused a crash in Missouri that killed two teenagers, police said.
The Fremont County Sheriff's Office said they received a report from a woman at Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa, who reported domestic violence at the hands of a male acquaintance.
The woman told police that the man was “suicidal and homicidal” and that he kidnapped her and her child in Nebraska, drove to Iowa, dropped her off at a hospital, and then left with the baby.
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A driver pursued by police in Iowa after allegedly kidnapping a 1-year-old in Nebraska caused a fiery crash in Missouri that killed two teenagers, police said. (St. Petersburg)
The Iowa State Patrol began a vehicle pursuit of the man, who was traveling at a high rate of speed and attempted to run into officers, in the southbound lanes of Interstate 29 as it crossed the state line into Missouri.
The man driving the Kia Sorento collided with a 2013 Ford Focus that was traveling in the left northbound lane. After being struck, the Ford passed a 2024 Volvo semi-truck, but swerved to avoid the collision and struck a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe Fremont County Patrol vehicle, according to the statement.
Two 18-year-old boys in the Ford Focus were pronounced dead.
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As a result of the accident, a Kia vehicle carrying a 1-year-old infant burst into flames.
Fremont County deputies were able to extract the infant from the burning vehicle and the infant was airlifted to an Omaha hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The man died in the accident.
Randy Pogue, the mayor of Kearny, Missouri, expressed his condolences on social media to the families of the two murdered teens.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cunningham and Yates families at this time of grief. Our community was shaken by the loss of two Kearney Bulldogs in a road accident in the North yesterday. May hope be a steadfast companion to both families, friends and loved ones, and prayers for all who are grieving,” Pogue wrote.
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The deputy who was struck by the semi was treated for minor injuries and released from care.
The Missouri State Patrol is investigating the crash.
