A weekend traffic accident claimed the life of a western Iowa teenager.
The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s office reports 17-year old Dakota Gittins, of Underwood, died at a hospital from injuries he suffered in the crash that happened at around 2:40 a.m. Sunday, near Honey Creek. Three other teens, all from Council Bluffs, suffered minor injuries.
Officials say a car carrying all four teens left a roadway at a curve and entered a ravine, struck some trees, and rolled over. Gittins was a junior at Underwood High School, where he played baseball and football. One of his sisters is a freshman at the school.
Grief counselors were available at the school Sunday afternoon and will continue to be available all this week, as needed. The crash remains under investigation.
(Reporting by Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic)