Linn County Deputy & Wrong-Way Driver Injured in Collision

A Linn County deputy and a wrong-way driver were injured in a collision on Wednesday night.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says around 7:30 pm, the deputy observed a red Dodge Dakota traveling the wrong way – westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 100 near Edgewood Road. The deputy began to pursue the pickup from the westbound lanes with his lights and sirens activated in an attempt to get the driver’s attention to pull over.

The deputy was able to get ahead of the wrong-way driver, turned around in the median, and began slowing down eastbound traffic with a rolling roadblock. The wrong-way driver then collided head-on with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office SUV on the eastbound Highway 100 bridge over the Cedar River.

Additional first responders from Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Linn County Sheriff Rescue 57, Cedar Rapids Police Department, Hiawatha Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Palo Fire Department, and Area Ambulance arrived shortly thereafter.

The driver of the Dodge Dakota was identified as 70-year old Scott Rohwedder of Coralville. Rohwedder and the deputy were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries.

This incident is still under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

photo courtesy of Linn County Sheriff’s Office/X