Authorities identify woman airlifted in I-80 crash

Investigators have released the identity of a woman who was airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines Monday afternoon after she was involved in a single-vehicle accident on the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 80 near Iowa Speedway Drive in Newton.

According to Jasper County Sheriff John Halftery, 37-year-old Rachel Maldaner of Wahoo, Neb. drove off the eastbound off-ramp at a high speed and crashed into a ditch near the Love’s Travel Stop at around 3 p.m.

“I was heading eastbound when I called 911 ... she was swerving back and forth heading eastbound,” said Matthew Smith, who witnessed the accident. “She took the ramp and accelerated down the ramp and shot across the road. She smashed into the bank, spiraled up in the air as high as the tree and landed back on her wheels.”

Smith said the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department arrived a few minutes after his initial 911 call.

Halferty, who responded to the scene, said Maldaner was alert when he arrived but could not confirm the severity of her injuries. Halferty said she will be further evaluated by the Mercy medical staff.

Officials said no other vehicles were involved in the incident and one else was injured in connection with the crash.

“We were luckily no one else was on the intersection,” Smith said.

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@newtondailynews.com.