Burlington, Ia (KTVO)- Two people were taken to the hospital Thursday after a car struck two vehicles involved in a funeral procession near Burlington.
The three-vehicle accident happened around noon Thursday along Highway 61, about five miles north of Burlington.
Deputies 62-year-old Jane Gerst, of Mediapolis, was going southbound on Highway 61 when her vehicle crossed the center line, grazing the first SUV in line. Gerst’s car then sat sideways in the lane, ahead of the last SUV in the funeral procession, when those two cars collided.
According to two witnesses, Gerst was traveling behind a driver who hit their brakes and partially pulled to the side of the road abruptly. Both witnesses said Gerst had swerved to miss that person’s vehicle when she crossed into oncoming traffic.
Gerst was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City with serious injuries.
The second driver 58-year-old Mark Wilson, of Burlington, was taken to the Great River Medical Center in West Burlington with minor injuries.
