Officials identify Knoxville man as wrong-way driver in fatal I-80 crash

The driver of the Ford Taurus that witnesses and authorities said was driving the wrong way on Interstate 80 early Saturday when it slammed into a sport utility vehicle carrying two police officers and a jail inmate was Benjamin E. Beary, 25, of Knoxville, state authorities said Monday afternoon.

The crash claimed the lives of Des Moines police Officers Carlos Puente-Morales, 34, and Susan Farrell, 30, and an inmate they were transporting, Tosha Nicole Hyatt, 32. Beary's car burst into flames and he also died at the scene.

Investigators said the police had gone to Council Bluffs to pick up an inmate who had been arrested there on a Des Moines warrant and were one there way back when the crash occurred about 12:30 a.m. Saturday at the Waukee exit on I-80.

Authorities have not said just how they believe the Taurus driver came to be headed west in the eastbound lanes.

A statement issued Monday by a Des Moines lawyer on behalf of the Beary family said they were 'grieving his death, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the three other people whose precious lives were lost in the horrible crash early Saturday morning on Interstate 80.

'Our pain at losing Ben, a beloved son and brother, is multiplied by the knowledge that this collision brought so much grief to others. We know Ben was watching basketball games Friday night with friends. We know he would never intentionally cause this pain. We hope that the police are able to piece together what happened next. But whatever information they find will not diminish the pain we feel at losing Ben at a young age. Nor will it lessen the grief for the families of Susan Farrell, Carlos-Puente-Morales, and Tosha Nicole Hyatt.

'Our condolences go out to all who lost loved ones in this tragic accident. May God bless our families in our time of mourning.”

Monday morning, Gov. Terry Branstad opened his weekly news conference by requesting a moment of silence for the crash victims and their family members.