Geonia De Avila, 42

West Branch, Iowa
January 28, 2001

Agencies: Iowa State Patrol

Cause of death: Vehicular


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Last updated: over 3 years ago

Overview

State trooper Jeff Benson stopped to help the De Avila family after their car slid off I-80 one mile east of the West Branch exit. According to police, Benson, Geonia De Avila and her daughter, Lisa, 7, were walking on the right side of his patrol car when a semitrailer hit Benson's cruiser, pushing it and the three pedestrians into the ditch. The trailer came to rest on top of Benson's patrol car, pinning all three people under the car. Both mother and daughter were killed. Benson was hospitalized in serious condition. The father had been pushed out of the way of the accident and sustained minor injuries, police said.

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