Four children dead following a car crash in Marshalltown

Nina Baker, Des Moines Register
·2 min read
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Police sirens

At 11:12 p.m. on Friday in Marshalltown, four young people were in a car that struck a utility pole, causing the vehicle to burst in flames, according to a report from the Iowa State Patrol.

All four died, the report said. The events leading to the crash were under investigation, the state patrol said.

All four people in the car were minors. The victims were Adrian Lara, 13, Isacc Lara, 16, Linette Lopez, 15, and Yanitza Lopez, 17.

"Our hearts go out to the Lara and Lopez families. This is a tragedy for our entire community. We know the community will stand strong in support of everyone affected," said Marshalltown Chief of Police Michael Tupper.

All of the children attended Marshalltown schools.

"The students lost include three Marshalltown High School students and one Miller Middle School student," the district said in a statement. Adrian and Isacc Lara were siblings as were Linette and Yanitza Lopez, the district said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the students families, friends and our entire school community."

The district said it would make mental health support available to family, friends and school community members Sunday and throughout the week.

Two GoFundMe fundraisers were set up on Saturday morning to raise money for the families. By Sunday morning, the GoFundMe for the Lopez family had raised $24,000, and the GoFundMe for the Lara family had raised about $21,000.

At a Saturday evening candlelight vigil at St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Marshalltown, Father Alan Dietzenbach said: “What happened last night was an accident. A horrible accident, no one is to blame. Pointed fingers are better spent folded in prayer for the Lopez and Lara families. For us, for their siblings, for their families and our Marshalltown community,” according to the Marshalltown Times-Republican.

The state patrol separately reported that Amy Finnell, 56, of Chariton, died in a Lucas County crash after her car and another collided head-on Friday evening. The driver of the other car was treated for minor injuries, the report said.

Nina Baker is a news reporter at the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at NBaker@gannett.com or on Twitter @Nina_M_Baker.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Fiery Marshalltown, Iowa car crash kills 4 people