ANKENY — A parked semi along Interstate 35 proved to be deadly for a young Iowa woman, when her Mercury Sable slammed into the back of the behemoth Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, a semi was parked along the outside shoulder of the northbound lanes on Interstate 35, near mile marker 101, due to a mechanical issue. Around 3:28 PM that day, 19-year-old Emilie Anne VanWinkle of Des Moines, was traveling northbound in a 2002 Mercury Sable when she lost control and crashed into the rear of the semi.
As a result of the collision, VanWinkle was killed.
The crash remains under investigation by the ISP.
According to the latest data from the Iowa Department of Transportation,
226 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads, according to state statistics.