Single-vehicle crash on I-80 leaves one dead

Single-vehicle crash on I-80 leaves one dead

WEST BRANCH— An accident on Interstate 80 here this morning left one person dead.

The accident is thought to be in connection with a homicide at 629 Barrington Rd., Iowa City, this morning that left five people, one woman and four children, dead. Steven Sueppel, the adult male occupant of the house, is missing, as well as the family's 1998 Toyota Sienna van, Iowa license plate 501 BLO.

Iowa State Patrol said the van was traveling westbound on I-80 around 6:30 a.m. when it lost control and entered the median east of mile marker 249. The van struck the concrete support for an electronic message board above the interstate and caught fire, killing the driver, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, said Trooper Mike Hicks.

Police could not confirm the vehicle at the scene was Sueppel or the missing van, although it did match the description of the Sueppels' van. There were no visible license plates on the vehicle.

Hicks said law enforcement officers are in the process of identifying the victim, who was burned beyond recognition.

The Johnson County Sheriff Department and West Branch Fire Department also responded to the scene.