June 09, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Union County reports two separate one-vehicle fatalities on Highway 34 last week

By STAFF REPORT
F&M Bodyshop tows a vehicle that was recovered from Grand River between Thayer and Murray Sunday afternoon. The driver, an Osceola woman, was killed in the crash.

F&M Bodyshop tows a vehicle that was recovered from Grand River between Thayer and Murray Sunday afternoon. The driver, an Osceola woman, was killed in the crash. (CNA photo by CHEYENNE ROCHE)

A Clarinda man and an Osceola woman were killed in separate Union County one-vehicle accidents five days apart.

According to a Union County Sheriff’s report, in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, a 1983 Honda motorcycle, driven by John Pace, 54, of Clarinda, was traveling eastbound on Highway 34 when it didn’t navigate the turn properly. The motorcycle traveled into the north ditch of the highway where it came to a rest on its side and Pace was located on the ground south of the motorcycle.

The accident was found around 4 a.m. by a driver of a semi who had seen the lights and turned around to check. Pace was deceased at the scene and has been taken for autopsy. The investigation is ongoing.

On June 8, the Union County Sheriff’s Office received numerous 911 calls at approximately 11:50 a.m. regarding a reckless driver who was all over the roadway eastbound on Highway 34 past Highway 169.

As the vehicle was close to the Clarke County line and without a Union County deputy in the area, a call was transferred to Clarke County.

Union County was then advised that the vehicle, a 2015 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by San Juana Vega, 43, of Osceola, was involved in an accident at mile marker 102 in Union County where it went off the roadway, down an embankment and came to rest in the Grand River.

The caller told Clarke County they were able to get the Traverse stopped on the side of the road. When they went to put the vehicle in park, it was instead put into reverse. Vega lost consciousness and lifted her foot off the brake, causing the vehicle to reverse down the hill. Witnesses were unable to stop the vehicle.

A Clarke County deputy and first responders arrived on scene after the car went down the hill. They were able to get Vega out of the vehicle before it became fully submerged in the water. Vega was transported by an ATV from the water to the Clarke County ambulance to be transferred to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines where she was declared deceased.

Medics reported to deputies they smelled alcohol on or around her person. The investigation is ongoing.

This is the third vehicle fatality reported in Union County this year.