Four dead in Wednesday's head-on collision on Highway 34

THAYER — Four people died after a head-on collision 2:45 p.m. Wednesday two miles east of Thayer on Highway 34.

Randall Dyson, 44, of Murray and Jessica Jackson, 31, and Kenya Ervin, 35, both of Chicago, Ill., were all pronounced dead at the scene Wednesday. Laura Hileman-Dyson, 44, of Murray and Mertis Harris, 28, of Chicago, Ill., were taken by air ambulance to Des Moines. Harris later died.

Hileman-Dyson is currently at Mercy Medical Center and is in fair condition.

According to an Iowa State Patrol crash report, Hileman-Dyson was driving a 2002 Chevy truck east on Highway 34 with one passenger, Randall Dyson, when her vehicle crossed the centerline.

Jackson, driving a 2011 Nissan, west on Highway 34 with two passengers, Ervin and Harris, recognized Hileman-Dyson had crossed the centerline and took evasive action by veering into the eastbound lane. Hileman-Dyson then corrected and veered back into the eastbound lane. Both vehicles took action once more to avoid the collision, but collided head on in the westbound lane.

The accident forced law enforcement to close Highway 34 for nearly three hours Wednesday. Traffic finally began moving again about 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.