La Porte City Man Dies in Mon. Accident on I-380 in Cedar Rapids

A busy Monday afternoon on a Cedar Rapids highway led to a crash that has left one dead. The accident occurred on Interstate 380 Southbound on the off-ramp to U.S. Highway 30 has taken the life of a La Porte City man. Police confirmed the man died of injuries he suffered as a result of the rollover crash yesterday, Monday, July 5. Police identified the man as Charles Ryan Yochem. He was 29.

The crash occurred when the driver was attempting to avoid a collision

According to the report from police made public on Facebook, the crash occurred Monday afternoon when the driver, Yochem, was traveling in the off-ramp lane for Highway 30. It appears he was trying to merge back onto I-380 when he swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle. At that point, it appears Yochem lost control of the Chevrolet Trailblazer he was driving, and left the road causing the vehicle to roll several times. Yochem was ejected from the vehicle and was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital, where he died shortly before 6 am this morning.

Front seat passenger 49-year old Deanna Marie Fugate from La Porte City was also ejected from the vehicle. 18-year old Jasmine Keister, who was in the backseat, was not ejected. Both were both transported to area hospitals, and are expected to recover, and Jasmine Keister has already been released from the hospital.

The crash occurred at approx. 3:25 pm Monday. Police officers and firefighters were on the scene for several hours. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.