Two people are dead after their pickup truck crashed into a pond in rural Woodbury County early today. The Iowa State Patrol says the truck apparently went out of control and rolled several times near mile marker 25 on old Highway 141 between Smithland and Holy Springs.

The pickup landed on its top on the iced-over pond. The man and woman died in the accident. The Iowa State Patrol has identified the victims as 37-year-old Jaimie Anderson, and 25-year-old Jestaine Olsen, both of Sioux City.

By Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City

A western Iowa man was killed in a car-truck crash in Crawford County on Tuesday morning near the town of Charter Oak. According to the Iowa State patrol accident report, 29-year-old Benjamin Randall Monk of Ute was killed when the 1989 Mazda he was driving rear-ended a 2001 Peterbuilt semi tractor trailer driven by 37-year-old Justin Hanson of Ute.

Hanson was eastbound on Highway 141 when he stopped to take a left turn into a farm drive and was waiting for traffic. The Monk vehicle failed to stop and struck the rear of the trailer. Monk was pronounced dead at the scene. Monk was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

By Michael Earl, KDSN, Denison

Eleven people escaped an apartment fire in Cedar Rapids late last night. The fire was reported shortly before midnight at a two-story home, turned into apartments, on Cedar Rapids’ southeast side.

When firefighters arrived, they were told there may be children trapped inside. No one was found in the home and after an hour, the intense flames and sagging of the structure forced firefighters to evacuate. It was later determined all six children and five adults in the building made it out safely.

Investigators said it’s not clear if the second floor smoke alarms were operating, but the children — between the ages of 3 and 13 — evacuated when they smelled smoke and heard yelling.

The fire is blamed on a woman in one of the first floor apartments who fell asleep while cooking with grease.

Two Sioux City residents died and another was injured during a crash on Interstate 80 Sunday morning about a mile east of Casey in Adair County. The Iowa State Patrol says 58-year-old Cynthia Piester, and her daughter, 38-year-old Jennifer Piester, died in the crash.

Cynthia’s husband, 60-year-old Johnny Piester, who was driving the SUV, was injured, and transported by Stuart Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, where he was listed in fair condition Sunday night. Officials say Piester’s 2000 Chevy Trail Blazer was traveling east on I-80 at around 10:50 a.m., when, for reasons unknown, the SUV entered the median, went between the bridges of the Middle River, and came into contact with the rock embankment.

The vehicle rolled onto its roof, made contact with the west bank of the river, and slid across the river ice before coming to rest partially submerged on the east bank of the river. All three of the accident victims were wearing their seatbelts. The accident remains under investigation.

By Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic

One person was killed in a two-vehicle crash this morning in eastern Iowa. The crash occurred around 7:40 a.m. on Highway 130 near Plainview in Scott County.

An Iowa State Patrol report shows a minivan driven by 55-year-old Leo August of Davenport crossed the center line and hit a car driven by 24-year-old Julie Whitesell of Dixon, Iowa. Whitesell was pronounced dead at a hospital.

August was transported to a hospital with injuries. Investigators say charges are pending in the case.