An autopsy is being conducted today on the body of a western Iowa woman who was found after being missing for a little over a week. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says it appears 57-year old Dawna Lynne Massie, of Atlantic, died as the result of a traffic accident.

The sheriff said Massie’s vehicle had been traveling westbound on Highway Six near Quick, when it veered toward the south and sideswiped a power pole before entering a deep ravine and ending up in a culvert.

Danker says Massie was still wearing her seatbelt when she was discovered, and it appears that there was no other activity after the initial impact. They won’t know the health problems caused the accident until after the autopsy results are returned.

Massie was last seen the morning of June first, when she left her home in Atlantic to head toward Omaha, where she had an emergency appointment with a dentist. Her car was discovered Thursday afternoon, when officials tracing her cell phone signature were able narrowed down the search area.