Investigation & Names Released in Fatal Collision Near Earlville

The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and Delaware County Sheriff’s Office issued a joint press release on Wednesday morning regarding the fatal collision that happened  on Highway 20 east of Earlville in the early morning hours on Sunday, October 13th.

Preliminary investigation by the lowa State Patrol, revealed a 2014 Chevrolet Impala, occupied by 3 adult males, was eastbound on Highway 20, east of the Earlville Interchange, when for an indeterminate reason, the vehicle crossed the median and continued eastbound in the westbound lanes for over 1 mile. 

The Chevrolet ultimately collided, head-on with a 2018 Freightliner Straight-Truck, resulting in both vehicles becoming fully engulfed in flame. The occupants of the Chevrolet Impala were pronounced deceased on scene, while the operator of the Freightliner sustained minor injuries. 

The occupants of the vehicles involved in the fatality motor vehicle collision have now been positively identified. The driver of the 2014 Chevy Impala was identified as Tijuan Devell White, age 50, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. The front seat passenger was identified as Tyrese Devell Johnson, age 21, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The rear seat passenger was identified as Augustine T. Monboe, age 38, of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. 

The driver of the 2018 Freightliner Straight Truck was identified as Ricky Charles Bergfeld, age 62, of Peosta, Iowa. 

The investigation determined that Tijuan White sustained a gunshot wound prior to colliding with Bergfeld’s truck. No evidence was located that indicated the gunshot came from outside White’s vehicle. Due to extensive fire damage to White’s vehicle, the manner of death remains undetermined. 

The investigation remains ongoing by the lowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation, the lowa State Patrol, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and the lowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.