Authorities are investigating the cause of an accident that killed a boy on a popular boat ride at an Iowa amusement park, the second deadly incident on the ride in five years. Adventureland Park in Altoona says three other people were injured after the accident on the “Raging River” Saturday night. The ride uses a conveyor belt to move large circular rafts through simulated river rapids. The injuries happened after a boat carrying six people flipped over. Altoona Police say 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo died Sunday from his injuries, and that another minor is in critical condition. Adventureland officials said the ride had been inspected on Friday, the day before the accident, and was found to be in sound working order. It remained closed the rest of the weekend for a thorough inspection. A 68-year-old seasonal employee died on the same ride in 2016 after he became wedged between a boat and a concrete wall.
No new information on the two people found dead inside a vehicle at the Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area. The Department of Natural Resources says a park ranger noticed a parked car at around 10:45 p.m. Friday in the first lot on the north side of the dam. That area closes nightly at 10:30 p.m. The ranger discovered one male and one female dead inside the vehicle. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating.
A Minnesota woman was killed and three other people injured at an Independence Day parade in the town of Slater. Iowa State Patrol officials say a vehicle was parked on the street after Saturday’s parade when pedestrians were in the road. A 75-year-old woman backed the vehicle out and struck several people; four people were dragged under the vehicle. 59-year-old Mary Nienow of Albert Lea was killed. A 67-year-old woman, a 30-year-old woman and a 6-year-old child were also injured. Each year, 5,000-6,000 people come to the Story County town of about 1,500 residents for its Independence Day festivities.
The holiday weekend was a busy one for police and fire calls in Cedar Rapids as some Independence Day festivities went too far. Cedar Rapids reported 10 fires associated with fireworks during the weekend, while police issued 15 citations on 461 calls regarding fireworks. It is illegal to set off fireworks anytime in Cedar Rapids, although it is legal to buy and sell them. Overall police calls were down from 2020, but 2021 calls to police for fireworks were up compared to 2018 and 2019 in Cedar Rapids. Police responded to almost as many calls on Sunday alone (234) as they did in the 3-day period around the holiday in 2019 (290).
Cedar Rapids police officers responded to 823 Camburn Court S.E. just before 11 p.m. Sunday night on a report of shots being fired. Officers say the home was struck with multiple rounds. No one was home at time of the incident and no injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation.
A two vehicle accident in Linn County sent six people to the hospital for treatment. Just after 11 p.m. Sunday night, authorities were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and Cedar River Road. A northbound vehicle failed to yield at a stop sign on Cedar River Road and pulled into the path of a vehicle traveling east on Highway 30. Both vehicles came to rest in the median east of the intersection. The driver of the car traveling north on Cedar River Road was identified as 18-year-old Messiah Tot from Davenport. His passenger was 18-year-old Aleaha Anderman from North Liberty. The driver of the car traveling east on Highway 30 was 40-year-old Tisa Morgan from West Liberty. Passengers in that vehicle were 41-year-old Shannon Leggett, 15-year-old Coven Morgan and 13-year-old Shelby Morgan. All occupants in both vehicles were transported to the University of Iowa Hospital. The accident remains under investigation.
