Authorities identify child killed in head-on crash near Saylorville Lake
The Polk County Sheriff's Office has identified the child who died in a head-on crash Sunday.
According to the sheriff's office, a two-vehicle crash was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday on Northwest Fisher Lane, just north of the entrance to Cottonwood Recreation Area near Saylorville Lake. Each vehicle was occupied by two people.
The occupants of the northbound vehicle — the driver and a juvenile passenger — were both transported to an area hospital where the child, identified Wednesday as 10-year-old Maxwell Harry Amenson of Polk City, died.
In a statement made to KCCI, North Polk Community School District superintendent Michael Kline says Amenson was going to be a fourth grader this fall at Big Creek Elementary School.
"We were deeply saddened to receive news of the tragic death of one of our beloved students, Max Amenson, who was going to be a 4th grader this fall at Big Creek Elementary.
Max was a compassionate and thoughtful young man who always had a big smile on his face. He was a shining light, especially within the walls of our school. His heart overflowed with kindness, a quality he proudly displayed at every opportunity. He will be greatly missed.
Our thoughts are with Max’s family and friends during this difficult time."
The driver and passenger of the southbound vehicle were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released.
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According to the latest data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, 146 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads. That number is 29 fewer than at the same point in 2023. Over the last five years, an average of 350 people have been killed in statewide crashes annually.
WATCH: Traffic deaths lower than this time last year