Aurora Wheeler, 2, killed, Bethany Wheeler, 34, injured when semi truck driven by William Kenneth Grothe fails to stop for stalled traffic on I-80 in Dexter, Iowa

Modified Date: 
Tue, 04/24/2018 - 9:58am
Accident Date: 
Monday, August 21, 2017

I-80 Accident Claims Life of 2-Year-Old Child

Trooper Alex Dinkla says the backup caused stand-still traffic and the driver of a semi hauling pigs was not able to stop before rear-ending a Chevy Malibu, which then struck a Ford van. The semi then rolled into the ditch where pigs escaped from the trailer.

State Patrol: 2-year-old died in crash that closed I-80

The 2-year-old Impala passenger who died was in a child-safety seat, in the back seat, Dinkla said.

The Impala's driver sustained minor injuries, and a front-seat passenger of the car was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital with serious injuries, Dinkla said. That person's medical condition was not available Tuesday morning.

Minneapolis 2-year-old dies when semi hits car from behind in Iowa

Friends in a posting on a GoFundMe page collecting money[1] for the family have identified the girl as Aurora Wheeler. 

Semi Driver Charged in Connection to Crash that Killed 2-Year-Old Minneapolis Girl

Authorities in Iowa say a 29-year-old South Dakota man has been charged with homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and serious injury with a vehicle in connection to a crash that killed a 2-year-old Minneapolis girl on her way home from watching the solar eclipse last summer.

People Involved: 
Aurora Wheeler
Bethany Wheeler
William Kenneth Grothe
Roadway: 
Interstate 80
City: 
Dexter, IA

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