Waterloo police have released the names of the people involved in a deadly accident late Thursday night. Authorities say two people were killed and a third was seriously injured when a passenger car collided with two motorcycles around 11:30 last night.
Killed in the crash were 33-year-old Gary Wright and his 35-year-old wife Cathy, both of Raymond. Police say the Wrights were riding on one of the motorcycles and were thrown into a ditch. They died at the scene. The driver and lone occupant of the second motorcycle, 36-year-old James Graham of Brandon, was rushed to a nearby Waterloo hospital with possible life-threatening injuries. He was later air-lifted to University Hospitals in Iowa City, where he’s currently being treated.
Officials believe the crash occurred when a car, driven by 17-year-old Zachary Brayton of Washburn, crossed the center line and struck the oncoming motorcycles. Brayton was treated for minor injuries at a Waterloo hospital, before being released. The accident closed U.S. Highway 218 on the southern edge of Waterloo for more than hour. The crash remains under investigation.