DEEP RIVER, IOWA – An Iowa woman who was a wife and mother to three sons perished in a violent vehicle rollover after her Ford Escape skidded on an icy road and then rolled multiple times.
Kara Westphal, age 45 of Deep River, Iowa, died Monday, January 5, 2026, in a single-vehicle crash on icy Highway 85 in Poweshiek County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, her vehicle lost control on an icy curve and rolled multiple times just after 7 AM that morning. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to an obituary, Kara Westphal was born on February 17, 1980, in Pella, Iowa, Kara was a devoted wife to Tony Westphal and a loving mother to three sons and three stepchildren. She was survived by her parents and siblings, as well as numerous other family members. She was known for her creative and adventurous spirit, enjoying crafting, cooking, and camping. In recent years, she was also pursuing a professional journey in mental health services, with a desire to help others.