An early morning car accident in Benton County claimed the life of a Cedar Rapids teenager. 19-year old Virginia Ortiz was killed when her car was struck head-on by a vehicle driven by 50-year old Christina Helmer of Marshalltown. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Helmer’s vehicle was westbound on Highway 30, near U.S. Route 131, when it crossed the center line and hit Ortiz’s eastbound vehicle. Helmer was taken by Lifeguard to University Hospital in Iowa City. The extent of her injuries is not known. The accident remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.