A motorcycle and car accident occurred Thursday afternoon on Highway 34 eastbound, just east of U.S. Highway 218, according to Iowa State Patrol Website.
Emergency crews from the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and local first responders arrived on scene around 3:00 p.m. Crews remained at the site for several hours, working well past 4:00 p.m.
Chief Murray confirmed the incident but said the Iowa State Patrol is leading the investigation. “I can confirm there was a motorcycle car accident east of 218 on Highway 34 eastbound. The State Patrol is handling the accident investigation, so that’s all I got for right now unfortunately,” he stated.
According to a minimal crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 3:00 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 218 and U.S. 34 in Mount Pleasant.
The report states that a 2025 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, operated by 67-year-old Jackie Lewis Bilotta of Bellefontaine, Mississippi, was stopped at a stop sign on the northbound U.S. 218 off-ramp. Bilotta attempted to make a left-hand turn onto westbound Highway 34 and was struck by an eastbound 2003 Oldsmobile Alero, driven by 30-year-old Tanner J. Waterhouse of Brighton, Iowa.
Bilotta was injured in the crash and transported by Mount Pleasant emergency crews to the hospital. His motorcycle was towed from the scene by Breuer’s Towing.
Waterhouse’s vehicle was also towed. The report additionally states that Waterhouse did not have a valid driver’s license.
The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.