Eastern Iowa Robbery Suspect Involved In Crash That Kills Two

A horrible turn of events in southeast Iowa last night has left two people dead.

It all started at approximately 7:45 Monday night in Ottumwa, in Wapello County. KTVO reports that police responded to a call that a pizza delivery driver had been robbed. 21-year-old Christian Garrett of Ottumwa was in the 1800 block of Greenwood when he was attacked by a man who cut his face and stole the vehicle he was driving. Garrett was taken to Ottumwa Regional Health Center. His injuries were not life-threatening.

Less than 20 minutes later, there was an accident on Highway 34 near the intersection of County Road T61. Authorities determined Garrett's stolen vehicle was involved in the crash. The Iowa State Patrol's crash report shows that 28-year-old Nathaniel Wesley Stroud of Centerville, Iowa was driving the vehicle "westbound on Highway 34 in the eastbound lane of traffic at a high rate of speed." The other vehicle, driven by 34-year-old Summer Leanne Cox of Allerton, Iowa was eastbound on Highway 34 when it was struck head-on by the vehicle driven by Stroud.

Stroud's vehicle came to rest in the north ditch and Cox's vehicle came to rest on the south side of the road. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. The Iowa State Patrol says Cox was wearing her seat belt when she was hit... Stroud was not.

The investigation continues.