MADISON COUNTY, IOWA – Two Iowa men were killed when the driver of their 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix left their lane and entered on-coming traffic, tragically striking an on-coming 2009 Mercury Grand Marques.
On July 3, 2025, at around 2:45 PM, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle crash in the 1800 block of Earlham Road. Responding deputies and other first responders discovered the crash scene and it involved three separate victims.
Jewell Clark, age 63 of Winterset, Iowa, was the lone occupant of her vehicle and was injured in the crash. She was transported by ambulance to a Des Moines hospital where her exact condition is unknown at this time.
The occupants of the other vehicle were identified as 55-year-old Kurtis Hanner of Stuart, Iowa, and 56-year-old Rodney Jones of Casey, Iowa. Both Hanner and Jones suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation shows that Hanner was driving a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix southbound on Earlham Road when he lost control and entered the northbound lane. Upon entering the northbound lane, Hanner collided with a 2009 Mercury Grand Marques driven by Clark. An investigation into the cause of the crash is on-going, police say.
Assisting the Madison County Sheriff’s Office was the Winterset Fire Department, Earlham Fire Department, Madison County Ambulance, Madison County Secondary Roads, Madison County Emergency Management, Madison County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol.