March 12, 2026, 2:10 p.m. CT
A single-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 eastbound late Wednesday night resulted in one fatality and left another person critically injured.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the incident at 10:45 p.m. on March 11, located between Merle Hay Road and the Des Moines River bridge. Deputies reported that both occupants of the vehicle were ejected during the crash, according to a statement released Thursday.
As a result of the collision, two lanes of the interstate were closed. A woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while a man was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Authorities have not released their identities pending family notification. There were no additional occupants in the vehicle.
The accident remains under investigation by the sheriff's office.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.