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Exclusive: Iowa trooper crash investigation details remain secret

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Exclusive: Iowa trooper crash investigation details remain secret


John Morrissey, a contract author in Des Moines, follows up on his protection of a deadly accident final 12 months.

Greater than 9 months after the crash that killed on-duty Iowa State Trooper Ted Benda, the Iowa Division of Public Security has nothing extra to say about the reason for his loss of life, or its implications. The division’s technical investigation is classed as confidential.

The preliminary public incident report appears to attribute the accident to the trooper’s driving habits. That was possible a contributing issue, however was it the only trigger?

The five-month technical investigation into this crash could or could not have thought of a poor headlight ranking, or greater than common driver loss of life charges for the car concerned, as contributing components. It is unclear as a result of the technical investigation report will stay secret until it’s sought as a part of a number of exceptions to state legislation, none of which permit public evaluate.

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In response to Bleeding Heartland’s inquiries, the division provided no rationalization of steps it might need taken since Benda’s loss of life to cut back future dangers, similar to testing the headlight purpose of its Dodge Chargers, or reviewing the crash statistics for its workhorse patrol car, and even offering a “do not veer for deer” reminder to troopers.

“WE MUST REMAIN COLLECTIVELY FOCUSED ON OFFICER SAFETY”

A ceremony on the state capitol on Might 6 honored two Iowa State Patrol officers killed whereas on obligation: Trooper Benda, and Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Jim Ok. Smith. (A 27-year veteran of the patrol, Smith was gunned down throughout an April 2021 stand-off in Grundy County. Michael Lang was convicted of the homicide in Might and sentenced to life in jail final month.)

The names of Ted Benda and Jim Ok. Smith have been inscribed within the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial

A contingent of uniformed state troopers, two lessons of legislation enforcement cadets, an honor guard, households of the 2 officers, and members of the general public attended the ceremony.

“During the last fourteen months, and in latest weeks, we have skilled a degree of problem and heartbreak that compels us to pause and mirror,” mentioned Iowa Division of Public Security Commissioner Stephan Bayens in his remarks. He added,

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These names that encircle us, etched in granite, function a perpetual reminder that there’s a group of courageous women and men who’re prepared to face within the hole between order and chaos; who’re prepared to guard probably the most weak amongst us; who stand prepared to increase compassion throughout the darkest of days; who’re compelled by a way of obligation to guard and serve.

The bodily and emotional stress of our duties weigh closely. And due to that heavy burden, we should stay collectively centered on officer security and well-being. We should stay steadfast in offering the help to legislation enforcement that they deserve in order to protect the bodily and psychological well being of those that serve.

Trooper Benda and Sergeant Smith have been additionally honored at a ceremony in Might on the Nationwide Legislation Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC.

PUBLIC AND SECRET REPORTS

The preliminary incident report, referred to as the MARS Public Data Launch Report, was filed on October 15, and amended to mirror Trooper Benda’s loss of life 5 days later. The technical investigation was accomplished on March 16 and its findings have been reviewed by the technical investigations employees and supervision, based on Sgt. Alex Dinkla, the Iowa State Patrol’s public info officer.

“I’ll remind you once more that beneath statute 321.271, the technical crash report is taken into account an investigative report and isn’t an open document,” wrote Dinkla in response to Bleeding Heartland’s questions in regards to the accident investigation findings.

Iowa legislation gives that the general public could not evaluate such investigative studies, though the drivers concerned in a crash, legislation enforcement customers, insurance coverage corporations, and attorneys concerned with litigation arising from a crash could entry the data.

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The findings hidden from public view on this occasion embody:

  • how briskly the car was shifting on the time of the crash;
  • whether or not the car’s crash construction failed in an surprising or unreasonable method as the results of affect;
  • whether or not the headlighting system might need contributed to the crash; and
  • whether or not the state was conscious of sure security efficiency statistics with the Dodge Chargers it purchases for Iowa State Patrol use.

ELEVATED DRIVER DEATH RATES, POOR-PERFORMING HEADLIGHTS

Trooper Benda was critically injured when he stumbled on deer within the highway and misplaced management of his 2019 Dodge Charger cruiser whereas responding to a name for help from a Clayton County sheriff’s deputy. His car veered off Iowa Freeway 51 and crashed within the ditch. He was discovered by a passing motorist and airlifted to a hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, the place he died six days later.

Based on the 2019 Dodge Charger proprietor’s handbook, the car has a full complement of passenger security tools, similar to entrance lap and shoulder belts, entrance passenger airbags, entrance passenger knee affect bolsters, a supplemental driver knee air bag, supplemental seat-mounted facet air baggage, and supplemental facet air bag inflatable curtains.

The Dodge Charger ranks on the high degree for crashworthiness attributes for roof power, facet affect, average overlap crashes and seat and head restraints as examined by the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS). Regardless of these excessive marks, the motive force loss of life charge for this car is worrisome, based on one other IIHS research.

Driver fatality information collected and revealed by the IIHS exhibits that Dodge Chargers have a better than common charge of driver fatalities as in comparison with greater than 150 fashions reviewed. The statistics, which cowl 2014 by means of 2017, present that the two-wheel drive Dodge Charger had 62 driver deaths per million car registration years (with a 95 % confidence interval of ± 21.) IIHS discovered the common driver loss of life charge for all automobiles of that classic was 36 driver deaths per million car registration years, with a confidence interval of between 34 and 37 deaths per million car registration years.

Though broadly utilized by U.S. legislation enforcement companies, the Dodge Charger isn’t the one police car accessible. SUV fashions favored by some departments have higher driver fatality scores, based on IIHS information. For the 2014 to 2017 evaluate interval, the Dodge Durango has a driver loss of life charge of 11 per million car registration years (± 17), the Chevrolet Tahoe has a charge of 28 per million (± 23), and the Ford Explorer 33 per million (± 11).

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For single car and rollover crashes, the 2017 Dodge Charger has a driver loss of life charge thrice as excessive as common, based on the IIHS. Single car driver deaths are 13 per million for all automobiles vs 39 per million for the Charger. Total driver deaths in roll-over crashes are almost as disparate, with 5 deaths per million for all fashions vs 13 per million for the Dodge Charger.

Dinkla declined to reply a written query about whether or not the technical investigator was conscious of those statistics or thought of them as a part of the inquiry.

Bleeding Heartland reported final 12 months on IIHS findings that late mannequin Dodge Chargers, together with fashions used as police automobiles by the Iowa State Patrol and plenty of different legislation enforcement companies throughout the nation, have poor-performing headlights for each the high and low beam settings. That ranking stemmed from 5 standardized exams used to guage automobiles’ headlight attain: ahead visibility on straightaways, in addition to visibility for 800-foot and 500-foot radius turns to the left and proper.

Requested earlier this 12 months in regards to the IIHS analysis on Dodge Charger headlights and whether or not which may have contributed to the deadly crash, Dinkla mentioned the division had not acquired any complaints from troopers about their patrol automobiles’ headlights.

WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHO KNOWS?

The Iowa Division of Public Security’s public statements level to a curious lack of urgency or dedication to parse out what contributed to Trooper Benda’s loss of life.

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“We should do all the things in our energy to forestall etching even a single title onto these partitions,” Commissioner Bayens mentioned in his Might 6 remarks on the Iowa Peace Officer Memorial. He didn’t reply to a written request for remark in regards to the Benda matter.

The Iowa labor commissioner’s duties embody investigating on-the-job deaths. However the Iowa Workforce Growth company, which homes the state Division of Labor, informed Bleeding Heartland that it doesn’t examine deadly automotive crashes, and closed an inquiry in regards to the matter.

State Medical Examiner Dennis Klein dominated the officer died as the results of “issues of blunt drive accidents of head and neck” suffered within the accident. “The accidents weren’t outdoors the spectrum of accidents we see in vehicle accidents,” he wrote in an electronic mail.

Iowa Division of Transportation District Engineer Jon Ranney mentioned his workplace has reviewed the crash report and finds no actionable findings for the Freeway 51 roadway. “Based mostly on the random variability of this fashion of crash, we don’t anticipate to make any extra modifications or enhancements,” he wrote in an electronic mail. A evaluate of 5 years of crash information between 2016 and 2020 exhibits 4 crashes occurred alongside Freeway 51, all of them animal-related.

BLAMING DRIVER BEHAVIORS FOR HIGHWAY FATALITIES

The Iowa Division of Public Security participates with a years lengthy effort to cut back site visitors fatalities, which additionally includes the Iowa Division of Transportation, Iowa Division of Public Well being, and Iowa Insurance coverage Division. Greater than 1,800 Iowans have been killed on the state’s roadways since 2017, and roadway deaths up to now this 12 months are working forward of earlier years presently. “Zero Fatalities” goals to eradicate all freeway deaths finally, however its short-term aim is to cut back the carnage to fewer than 300 freeway crash deaths in Iowa every year.

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The intiative’s web site claims that “94 % of crashes are brought on by human error.” One other web page dials that estimate again to 90 %. “Realizing what driving behaviors want to alter is a precursor to with the ability to lower fatalities and main accidents on Iowa’s roadways,” the web site states.

The web site identifies the 5 commonest driver behaviors related to roadway deaths, mentioned Tracey Bramble of Iowa Zero Fatalities. She mentioned it is uncommon {that a} crash has only one trigger. The web site is designed to spotlight the motive force behaviors that usually result in fatalities, primarily based on analysis by the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration.

“The ‘Zero Fatalities’ Marketing campaign is owned and operated by the Iowa Division of Transportation,” Dinkla wrote. “I can’t converse to their percentages [of driver behavoir resulting in crashes] as they obtain EVERY crash report that’s filed within the state of Iowa.”

HUMAN ERROR, AND WHAT ELSE?

The general public info crash report about Benda’s deadly accident cites no supplemental or contributory causes, past the narrative description that the motive force misplaced management after taking “evasive motion to keep away from putting a deer which had entered the roadway.” The “Iowa Zero Fatalities” web site reminds drivers to not swerve for deer.

“The MARS report has already acknowledged that Trooper Benda was touring over the posted (55 MPH) velocity restrict heading to an emergency name,” wrote Dinkla when requested how briskly Benda’s car was touring on the time of the crash. “What’s acknowledged on the MARS report about contributing circumstances was verified with the Technical Investigator.”

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Medical expert Klein declined to take a position about whether or not the extent of the officer’s accidents may be associated to the crashworthiness of the car, saying that was outdoors of his experience. Trooper Benda was sporting a seat belt and did survive the crash that destroyed his car, though he was gravely injured.

The MARS report states that the car was responding in an “emergency standing” however its “warning lights weren’t used.” Dinkla wrote that the sunshine bar on the car was destroyed within the crash, so investigators couldn’t decide whether or not the lights have been working on the time of the crash.

Nonetheless, the site visitors investigation reporting handbook features a particular response code (“Code 99—Unknown”) to be used by the accident investigator when answering this specific information aspect. This report comprises a special code: “03—Sure, warning tools not used.”

“Driver habits associated to emergency car response is an rising nationwide concern,” based on the Investigating Officers Crash Reporting Information, revealed by the Iowa Division of Transportation. Knowledge in regards to the emergency standing of automobiles concerned in crashes are captured to “information growth of coaching or different countermeasures to cut back the variety of crashes involving emergency car response.”

Images by John Morrissey, taken on the Might 6 ceremony on the Iowa Peace Officers Memorial, are revealed with permission.

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Iowa

Iowa Completes Brutal First Half vs UCLA

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Iowa Completes Brutal First Half vs UCLA


The Iowa Hawkeyes got off to a great start against the UCLA Bruins on Friday night, but it didn’t take long for things to stagnate.

After intercepting UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers a couple of times, resulting in Iowa jumping out to a 10-0 lead, the Hawkeyes allowed 17 unanswered points themselves, resulting in a seven-point deficit at the half.

Luckily for Iowa, Garbers fumbled into the end zone on UCLA’s second to last drive of the half, and the Hawkeyes recovered the ball for a touchback. So, things could have been much worse.

But while the Hawkeyes’ defense certainly made some magic happen in the first half, collecting three turnovers, this is not the way Iowa was hoping to perform against UCLA.

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Brendan Sullivan went 5-for-7 with 138 yards and an interception, and Kaleb Johnson carried the ball nine times for just 31 yards and a touchdown.

The Hawkeyes’ offense was certainly looking better with Sullivan under center rather than Cade McNamara over the past couple of weeks, but it’s not exactly like Sullivan was throwing the football incredibly well against Northwestern and Wisconsin.

Sullivan had been making plays happen with his legs, but that wasn’t really available for the signal-caller over the first 30 minutes versus UCLA.

The Bruins also dominated possession, running 43 plays compared to 22 for the Hawkeyes.

Perhaps in a way, Iowa is fortunate that the game is as close as it is heading into the half, because a better opponent probably would have buried the Hawkeyes.

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We’ll see if Iowa, which has already turned the ball over twice, can turn things around in the second half.



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GOP lawmaker calls for UI to fire physician for ‘repulsive’ anti-Trump social media post

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GOP lawmaker calls for UI to fire physician for ‘repulsive’ anti-Trump social media post


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A state lawmaker is calling for the University of Iowa to fire a physician who published an inflammatory social media post opposing President-elect Donald Trump after Tuesday’s general election.

UI Health Care medical fellow Mayank Sharma posted a response Wednesday to a post from a pro-Trump account stating: “Well I hope you lose your kid in a school shooting. Already you have nothing to lose, it won’t matter to you anyways! Prepare for your kids funeral.”

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The post prompted Iowa House Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Carter Nordman to write a letter to University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson calling for Sharma’s removal. Nordman called the post “repulsive” and “deeply unprofessional” and questioned Sharma’s mental health, accusing him of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Sharma, whose UI pediatric cardiology fellowship is from 2023-26, according to an archived version of a UI website, is no longer listed as a UI Health Care current fellow as of Thursday. His X account is also deactivated. The Register could not find Sharma’s contact information for comment.

UI Health Care spokesperson Laura Shoemaker wrote in a statement that the university is aware of the situation and is reviewing it in accordance with its policies.

“The University of Iowa strongly objects to violence,” Shoemaker wrote.

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Under the First Amendment, an incident has to fall under specific guidelines if the university were to take action after an employee posts offensive or false messages on their personal social media accounts, according to the UI’s free speech website.

“The university may be obligated to act to prevent harm to the university, our campus community, and its mission. For instance, when an employee’s personal expression violates university policy, such as engaging in threatening or intimidating speech towards a co-worker, the university may be compelled to intervene to maintain a safe or efficient work environment,” the website reads.

Nordman said he believes Sharma’s post is in violation of three parts of the Iowa Administrative Code. He said Sharma “should update the Iowa Board of Medicine on his ability to engage in practice and provide patients with safe and healthful care based on Iowa Administrative Code 653-10.3(3)(b)(8).”

Nordman told the Register since he sent the letter to UI officials Thursday afternoon, they told him they are investigating.

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“I think my letter has made it very clear what I think me and most of my colleagues would like to see,” Nordman said. “I find it difficult to believe that he’s mentally capable of providing health care to children when he is making statements like that.”

He said he doesn’t believe Iowa lawmakers need to police public employees’ social media and their First Amendment rights, however, Sharma’s post is an outlier.

“He is an individual who works with children and who is being paid by Iowa taxpayers to work with children and is hoping and making claims that somebody dies in a school shooting based off of a political belief,” Nordman said. “I almost think it’s a borderline threat.”

Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at sabine.martin@gannett.com or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin. 



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Iowa men’s basketball: Sophomore Pryce Sandfort quickly emerging as weapon for Hawkeyes

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Iowa men’s basketball: Sophomore Pryce Sandfort quickly emerging as weapon for Hawkeyes


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IOWA CITY — It was late in the first half of Thursday’s contest between Iowa and Southern that Pryce Sandfort became acutely aware that this was, so to speak, his night.

With the shot clock running down, point guard Brock Harding got caught in the air as he tried to salvage the possession and flung a desperation pass to Sandfort in the corner. Pryce Sandfort corralled the low delivery and let a 3-pointer rip before the shot clock sounded.

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“It felt really good,” Sandfort recalled. “And it was money. So that’s probably when I was like, yeah, it’s my night.”

For a while, Sandfort was pitching the basketball equivalent of a perfect game. It wasn’t until a little more than five minutes left in the game — after eight makes from the field, including six from deep — that Sandfort missed his first shot.

It was, Sandfort confirmed after the game, like blacking out. 

“Yeah, pretty much,” Sandfort said. “Obviously, I’m not trying to force — still get good shots. But every time I was going up in that zone, it felt like it was going in. So it feels good.”

Sandfort did end up missing shots — only two to be exact. But his final stat line was still remarkably efficient. He finished the night with a career-high 22 points on 8-of-10 from the field and 6-of-8 from deep, plus four rebounds off the bench in Iowa’s 89-74 victory.

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Two games into the 2024-25 regular season, the sophomore is quickly emerging as a serious weapon for the Hawkeyes.

“He’s been playing like that,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. “He really has been since the summer. Really consistently shooting the ball well, consistently playing well at both ends. Been much more aggressive driving the ball, making plays.

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Video: Fran McCaffery discusess Iowa’s win over Southern University

Fran McCaffery discusses a variety of topics following Iowa’s win over Southern University on Thursday.

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Named 2023 Iowa Mr. Basketball as a senior at Waukee Northwest, Pryce Sandfort’s game did not immediately translate in his freshman season for the Hawkeyes. There were clear growing pains in the transition to the college level as Sandfort played sparingly and was just a limited factor.

That sparked a change behind the scenes. Sandfort suggested that he move to scout team during practice in hopes of playing more freely. McCaffery said this isn’t unheard of — a player desiring to transition to scout team — but it is a rarity.

“He just got back to being who he is,” McCaffery said. “The guy was Mr. Basketball for a reason. He was the best player in the state. And he was trying to fit in. He was a freshman and trying to be solid. It’s like, dude, you need to go make plays, you need to be aggressive, you need to drive the ball, you need to impact the game with your length, with your size, with your shooting.”

Sandfort showed small doses of what he could do toward the end of last season. During a stretch in February, he made 5-of-8 3-pointers during Big Ten play.

That set the stage for the offseason. Sandfort added some weight to his lanky 6-foot-7 frame. At Iowa basketball’s media day, McCaffery raved about the way Sandfort had been shooting leading up to his sophomore season.

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In a small sample size, that is already being validated. Sandfort scored 11 in Iowa’s exhibition against Minnesota Duluth, all of which came in the second half. He set a then-career-high 13 points in Monday’s regular-season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce. That didn’t last long as Sandfort shattered his record yet again with the 22-point outing against Southern on Thursday.

To fellow sophomore Owen Freeman, the way Sandfort is playing isn’t exactly a surprise. What Sandfort has done out of the public eye is now coming to light.

“I kinda got to see it all last year,” Freeman said. “He helped us with scout, so he kinda killed us when he was on the scout team, too. I’ve been seeing it for a while.”

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Owen Freeman: Iowa needs to take ‘more pride in getting stops’ defensively

Owen Freeman discusses a variety of topics following Iowa’s win over Southern University on Thursday.

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If this can be sustained — and that remains a big if — it would be a meaningful development for Iowa.

The Hawkeyes’ success this season hinges not only on the play of the big three — Payton Sandfort, Owen Freeman and Josh Dix — but also an ability to get contributions outside of them.

Iowa did so on Thursday.

Payton Sandfort, Owen Freeman and Josh Dix combined for 46 points. But the Hawkeyes also got 35 bench points, 22 of which came via Pryce Sandfort and 12 of which were delivered by Morehead State transfer Drew Thelwell. Pryce Sandfort and Drew Thelwell have now scored in double figures in each of Iowa’s first two games.

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The glamor of Iowa’s 18 made 3-pointers — one-third of them by Pryce Sandfort — was somewhat dampened by an uninspiring end to the game. Iowa, which led by 25 points with a little more than three minutes remaining, let Southern finish the game on a 10-0 run, making the final score appear less decisive. Freeman was adamant after the game that Iowa needs to take more pride in getting stops defensively.

Iowa is still clearly a work in progress — as many teams are at this point in the season. But the more storylines to materialize like that of Pryce Sandfort, the brighter the future looks for the Hawkeyes.

“It feels really good,” Pryce Sandfort said. “I’ve pictured these moments in my head all throughout last year and in the offseason. So now that it’s here, it feels really good that all that hard work paid off.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com





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