In the quiet predawn hours of August 15, 2025, the Altoona community was struck by an unimaginable tragedy that would ripple through the lives of family, friends, and an entire region. Zachary Scothorn, a vibrant 19-year-old with a bright future, lost his life in a catastrophic wrong-way crash on Interstate 80 near Altoona, Iowa. A Johnston High School graduate and Iowa State University student pursuing a degree in supply chain management, Zachary’s promising journey was cut short in a moment that has left a community grappling with grief.
The Iowa State Patrol reports that the devastating incident unfolded around 1:35 a.m. on that fateful Friday morning. Zachary, originally from Johnston and residing in Ames, was behind the wheel of his Toyota Tundra, inexplicably traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80. In a heart-stopping collision, his truck slammed head-on into an eastbound Dodge 3500 pickup. The force of the impact left the pickup disabled in the roadway, unable to move. Moments later, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, also traveling east, collided with the stranded pickup, compounding the chaos of the scene.
Zachary, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene, a loss that has left an indelible mark on those who knew him. The crash was not without further toll: a passenger in Zachary’s Tundra, along with the drivers of the Dodge and the Sprinter, sustained injuries and were swiftly transported to Mercy Hospital by Altoona EMS. The extent of their injuries remains undisclosed, but their survival offers a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy. The wreckage and debris scattered across the highway forced significant traffic delays, snarling Interstate 80 for hours as emergency responders worked tirelessly at the scene.
The heartbreak didn’t end there. As the Polk County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash, one of their patrol vehicles was struck around 4:40 a.m., injuring a deputy who was also rushed to a local hospital. The incident underscored the dangers faced by first responders as they navigate already perilous situations to aid those in need.
Zachary Scothorn was more than a name in a crash report. A proud Johnston High School alumnus, he was a young man with dreams and ambitions, studying supply chain management at Iowa State University. Friends and family remember him as a beacon of potential, someone whose warmth and determination touched everyone around him. His untimely death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit communities of Altoona, Johnston, and Ames, where vigils and tributes are beginning to emerge in his honor.
The Iowa State Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances that led to Zachary’s fatal decision to drive against traffic. Questions linger: What caused him to enter the wrong lanes? Was it a moment of confusion, distraction, or something else entirely? As authorities piece together the details, the focus for many remains on the profound loss of a young life filled with promise.
The Altoona community now mourns a son, a friend, a student, and a dreamer. Interstate 80, a lifeline of travel and commerce, became the stage for an unthinkable tragedy that will forever mark those who knew Zachary Scothorn. As the investigation unfolds, the collective heart of Iowa holds space for healing, remembrance, and a renewed call for road safety to prevent such a devastating loss from happening again.