Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gregg Connell ran a stop sign and caused a car crash that killed another motorist, authorities say.
Connell’s car collided with a vehicle driven by David Juhl, 51, on Tuesday afternoon near the town of Griswold. Both men were driving alone.
Juhl died at a hospital. The 56-year-old mayor of the town of Shenandoah, population 5,600, was treated at a hospital.
He was ticketed for a running a stop sign, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said.
“Physically, he’s fine, but psychologically he’s a mess,” said Michael Gartner, owner of minor league baseball’s Iowa Cubs and a longtime friend of Connell’s.
Connell, a Democrat in a heavily Republican area, launched his bid for the nomination over the summer, becoming one of six Democrats and two Republicans vying to succeed Democrat Tom Vilsack in 2006. Vilsack is not seeking a third term.
Connell was not considered one of the leading candidates.