2 Iowa police officers among 4 killed in wrong-way crash

Two police officers and a prisoner they were transporting were killed early today in a fiery crash on an interstate highway in Iowa that investigators say was caused by a wrong-way driver, who also died.
Des Moines officers Susan Farrell and Carlos Puente-Morales, who had been on the job less than six months, were killed in the crash that occurred around 12.40 am today on Interstate 80 west of Des Moines, police spokesman Sgt Paul Parizek said.
The officers had been returning the prisoner from Council Bluffs to Des Moines when their sport utility vehicle was struck by a vehicle driving the wrong way on the freeway, police said.

Both officers and the driver of the other vehicle were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, Parizek said.
Investigators had not yet determined by today morning whether the prisoner being transported was wearing a seat belt, he said.
The Iowa State Patrol is investigating.

Parizek and Police Chief Dana Wingert were visibly upset at a news conference held later today morning to give initial details of the crash.
Farrell, 30, and Puente-Morales, 34, had graduated from the police academy in October, Parizek said.
"We face a nightmare that no one ever wants to experience," Wingert said during the conference. "Words cannot express what this loss means."

Gov Terry Branstad issued a statement today extending sympathy to the families of those killed and saying he would issue an order next week for flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor the officers.