Clarence driver dies after trying to pass 2 vehicles in Cedar County

A driver from Clarence was killed, and his passenger injured, as he attempted to pass two vehicles Friday morning on a two-lane road east of West Branch, according to the Iowa State Patrol.

About 6:50 a.m., according to a crash report, Zachary John Hutchinson, 36, was driving behind two vehicles headed south in the 1700 block of Garfield Avenue in Cedar County. He swung his 2012 Mazda sedan out to pass a 2014 Hyundai sport utility vehicle in front of him and a 2016 Chevrolet pickup truck in front of the SUV.

But the SUV tried to pass the pickup at the same time.

According to the crash report, Hutchinson “took evasive action” but struck the pickup, losing control and rolling over into a ditch. He died at the scene and his body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. He was not wearing a seat belt, the report stated.

A passenger, identified as Makayla Ann Casper, 28, also of Clarence, was injured and taken by ambulance to University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City. The nature of her injuries were not reported. The report said she was wearing a seat belt.

Occupants of the other vehicles involved were not injured, according to the crash report.