Highway 34 Crash Claims Life Of Clarinda Man

A crash on U.S. Highway 34 south of Glenwood claimed the life of a 34-year-old Clarinda man last Tuesday, June 5. The accident occurred shortly after 12:15 p.m., one-half mile west of Kidd Road.

According to a report from the Iowa State Patrol, a westbound 1992 GMC truck driven by James A. Robertson, 65, of Pacific Junction was traveling westbound on Highway 34 when a tire blew out. The driver lost control of the vehicle, which crossed the median, entered the eastbound lanes and collided with a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Jennifer L. Marsh, 23, of Clarinda. Both vehicles went into the south ditch, where the Grand Am rolled before coming to a rest on its top.

Tristan L. Marsh, a front-seat passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene of the collision. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the state patrol report. Jennifer Marsh and two children in the back seat - Alexis Woodyard, 11, and Brantley Marsh, 1 – were wearing seat belts, but sustained multiple injuries. They were transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for treatment and released two days later.

Robertson, who was wearing a seat belt, sustained non life-threatening injuries and was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The state patrol was assisted at the accident scene by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Glenwood Rescue and Malvern Rescue.