The Iowa State Patrol say weather and road conditions were a factor in a fatal traffic crash Monday night in east-central Iowa. The crash happened shortly after 10 p.m. on Interstate 380 near the Urbana exit in Benton County.
Authorities say 82 year old Clement Pelikan of Waterloo was driving northbound when he stopped his pickup in the roadway for an unknown reason. His vehicle was struck by a car driven by 23 year old Matthew Patrilla of Toddville.
As Pelikan was getting out of his truck, a third vehicle driven by 36 year old Matthew Farmer of Vinton swerved to miss the accident. However, the Farmer vehicle hit Pelikan’s truck, which struck Pelikan, throwing him in the ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Farmer and Patrilla were not seriously injured.