Woman falls asleep at the wheel

MT. PLEASANT — Just before noon, Oct. 2, Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a single vehicle rollover near Mile Marker 45 on U.S. Highway 218 near Mt. Pleasant.

According to a news release from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Kathy Hensley-Birky, 60, of Cedar Rapids fell asleep while driving northbound on 218.

Her 2014 Chevrolet Equinox was deemed a total loss after striking a cable barrier and then rolling several times

Henry County Paramedics transported Hensley-Birky to Henry County Health Center for possible serious injuries.

She received a citation for failing to main control of a motor vehicle as a result of this incident.

According to the National Safety Council, “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that every year about 100,000 police-reported, drowsy-driving crashes result in nearly 800 fatalities and about 50,000 injuries. The real number may be much higher, however, as it is difficult to determine whether a driver was drowsy at the time of a crash.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com