Authorities have released the names of two people, killed when their car crashed into a dump truck during a chase.


According to the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the incident began at about 12 noon Wednesday (Sept. 8). The office received a report of a domestic disturbance in the area of 80th Street and Highway 100, just west of Cedar Rapids. The domestic incident was in progress inside the vehicle, and the female passenger was threatening to jump out.

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The occupants of the vehicle have now been identified as 35 year old Leo Alan Ray of Cedar Rapids, the driver, and his passenger, 35 year old Stacey Lynn Watts, also of Cedar Rapids. Information on their relationship was not available.

Ray refused to pull his car over for the responding deputy, and a high speed chase began, headed south on 80th Street, with the woman, Watts, still inside the vehicle.
The pursuit went south on 80th to East Cemetery Road in Fairfax. The suspect car continued west to southbound Highway 151.

When the deputy observed the car being driven recklessly, the officer called off the pursuit near Wright Brothers Boulevard.
Just one minute after that, the deputy witnessed a large amount of debris flying into the air from an apparent collision.

The officer discovered that the suspect car travelled into the oncoming lane of traffic near Walford, went out of control, and slammed nearly head-on into an oncoming Kenworth dump truck.
Both Ray and Watts were ejected from the car, and pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was not hurt.

The accident is still under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

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