A horrific incident on an Iowa highway last month killed one driver and two passengers, all of whom were men from the Twin Cities region.
Mysterious circumstances surround the tragedy, as Iowa authorities learn that the driver, 50-year-old Tijuan D. White of Robbinsdale, was shot before crossing the median and colliding head-on with a semi-truck.
The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 20 near Earlville on October 13.
White and his two passengers, Tyrese D. Johnson, 21, of Minneapolis, and Augustine T. Monboe, 28, of Robbinsdale, were all pronounced dead on the spot.
In a news release, the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) stated that the circumstances surrounding the shooting are unknown.
“No evidence was located that indicated the gunshot came from outside White’s vehicle,” according to the bureau. “Due to extensive fire damage to White’s vehicle, the manner of death remains undetermined.”
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, an affidavit filing indicates that the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner “has a pending and preliminary manner of death as murder caused by the gunshot wound and blunt force trauma for White.”
According to the Star Tribune, Johnson and Monroe died as a result of “pending and preliminary” blunt force trauma and criminal charges may be made based on the origins of the gunshots.
Reference: Mystery surrounds fiery crash that killed 3 Twin Cities men in Iowa