Waterloo Man Dies In Mason City Accident

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Authorities in northern Iowa are investigating an accident involving a semi tractor-trailer and pick-up truck that killed a Waterloo man.

Mason City police said 52-year-old Amar Pinjo died in the crash, which happened Wednesday just after 5:30 AM on Iowa Highway 122 near North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC). Authorities identified Pinjo as the semi-driver.

According to authorities, Pinjo was driving southbound on a city street and failed to stop at a controlled intersection. The rig slammed into the pick-up and veered off the road, overturning in a field and ejecting Pinjo. Police said the semi burst into flames and the fire was difficult to extinguish because of the location in the field.

Officials said Mason City firefighters had to extricate the driver of the pick-up, who they identified as 57-year-old Matt Hoveland of Osage. Hoveland was taken to a Mason City hospital to be treated for injuries and was later released.

One Killed In Chickasaw County Crash

The fatal accident in Mason City was one of two involving a semi that occurred in northern Iowa Wednesday. The other crash happened just before 3 PM in Chickasaw County.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, one person in a car died when the vehicle field to yield at a stop sign was broadsided by a semi-tractor-trailer. The driver of the semi was not injured, authorities said.

Authorities did not immediately release the names of those involved in the accident, which happened at the U.S. Highway 63-U.S. Highway 18/Iowa Highway 346 interchange about seven miles west of Fredericksburg and seven miles south of New Hampton.

The Chickasaw County accident also remains under investigation.