One person was killed and another injured after their truck was pushed by a train in Rudd last Saturday morning.

According to Iowa State Patrol, truck passenger Brian Leckness, 32, died on the spot and truck driver Gary Eilers, 73, was critically injured after their pickup truck did not yield at a railroad crossing and crossed a set of train tracks as the train was coming. As a result, the train pushed their truck nearly a quarter of mile, causing it to end up on 6^th Street. The victims were first admitted to Mercy Medical Center in North Iowa, then transferred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

Unfortunately, this tragic event that took place April 20 illustrates all too well how dangerous train crossings can be and the need for safe driving. Our condolences from the legal team at the Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C., go out to all the family and loved ones of those involved in this accident.

A man was injured after a gas line he was working on exploded Thursday morning at 3600 Skylark Lane SE.

Cedar Rapids Fire Department Information Officer Greg Buelow said the explosion happened when Howard Russell, 41, a Q3 Contracting employee was disconnecting a gas line. A concerned home owner reported the explosion to 911. Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading. Russell sustained hand burns and was brought to Mercy Medical Center. MidAmerican Energy also responded to the scene to shut off the gas line that had been leaking for over an hour.

Officer Buelow said the explosion incident is still under investigation.

After being injured in an explosion accident, a person is likely to sustain serious and painful injuries. If you have been involved in such an incident due to someone else's negligence, call 319-294-4424. The lawyers at the Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C., may be able to help you obtain compensation.    

A fatal car accident killed one person on Mount Vermont Road the afternoon of Monday, March 4.

Police reported the crash happened in southeast Cedar Rapids on the 2400 block of Mount Vermont Road when a vehicle driven by a 45-year-old man crossed the center line and had a head-on collision with a grain truck. A third vehicle was also reportedly a part of the crash, according to police. The 45-year-old man, whose identity was unavailable immediately after the accident, died at the scene of the crash.

The road on which the accident happened was closed off until around 5 p.m. that day and the public was advised to select other route.   

Tragically, car accidents resulting from reckless and negligent drivers cause the undue deaths of many Americans each year. The lawyers at the Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C., send their thoughts to those touched by this tragedy.

A series of car accidents all occurring on the same day on southbound I-380 earlier this month caused a slow down in traffic in Cedar Rapids.

Officers responded to a call about a vehicle that lost control at 7^th Street around 6 am. The vehicle hit the median until it stopped in the inside lane, and according to reports, no one was injured. Meanwhile, another southbound vehicle swerved and rolled over after it hit the median when it attempted to avoid the first crash; the driver was reportedly brought to the hospital with minor injuries. Then another two accidents occurred, one at J Avenue and one at Glass Road. No one was injured in either of these accidents.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident caused by another party's recklessness or negligence, take action and contact a Cedar Rapids car accident lawyer at the Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C., today by calling  319-294-4424.

On Friday, November 2, a 26-year-old Cedar Rapids woman was arrested by Iowa City police after she was accused of driving her vehicle under the influence. The woman was driving her minivan around 2 a.m. Friday morning when she offered a ride to two men in the area. The men came to an agreement with the driver in regards to payment for the lift, and they were expected to pay a certain amount at the time of their arrival.

Upon arriving, one of the passengers refused to pay for the ride, and the woman became angry. She decided to continue driving, with the men in her vehicle. One of the passengers called the Iowa City police and reported that he was being held against his will, and the vehicle was about to enter a major interstate. Both men chose to jump from the moving van right before it merged onto Interstate 80. 

Police located the driver and her minivan on the westbound side of Interstate 80, and pulled her over. Police officers responding to the call revealed that she was heavily intoxicated, and had red, glassy eyes. She refused a breathalyzer test, and a blood test after being arrested. The charges against her include intoxicated driving, and false imprisonment. Both of these charges are classified as serious misdemeanors. 

Please contact the drunk driving accident lawyers of the Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C. by calling 319-294-4424 if you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident that was caused by an intoxicated driver.