A Churdan resident died Jan. 24 in a collision in Sioux City after being pursued by law enforcement.
According to the Iowa State Patrol, a trooper was in pursuit of Melissa Thede, 40, of Churdan, as she entered the Sioux City city limits, driving a 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. She continued to drive erratically and at high rates of speed. The trooper terminated the pursuit at the instruction of supervisors.
Thede then struck the rear of a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by Hector Alvarez Collazo, 29, of Sioux City. Her vehicle rolled and then struck a 2018 Ford Edge driven by Traci Kellen of Sioux City.
Thede was pronounced dead at the scene. Her vehicle was totaled in the crash. Alvarez Collazo was at St Luke’s Medical Center for minor injuries. His vehicle and Kellen’s vehicle both received disabling damage.
