DEWITT, Iowa (KCRG) - The Clinton County Sheriff’s Office said three children were killed, and four other people were taken to the hospital after a crash on Highway 30 Monday morning.
It happened at around 9:18 a.m. in the 3700 block of Highway 30 eastbound.
The sheriff’s office said a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV was stopped or disabled in the outside lane of Highway 30 eastbound.
A flatbed truck towing a trailer rear-ended the SUV, causing it to go into the ditch. The truck, which had significant front-end damage, stopped along the shoulder of Highway 30.
Both eastbound lanes of Highway 30 were closed for more than four hours while first responders were at the scene.
There were six people in the SUV, two adults and four children. There was only one person in the truck.
Two of the children, both under the age of five, died at the scene. A third child, who was under the age of five, was airlifted to the hospital, but died shortly after arriving.
The two adults and the fourth child were taken to the hospital to be treated.
The driver of the truck was also taken to the hospital for treatment.
The names of the people that died have not been released.
The crash remains under investigation.