News : Rural Vinton teen injured in I-80 crash that claimed three lives

Formver Vinton residnet Hayden Rast, center, was among several people injured in an accident that killed three others as a youth hockey team traveled home on I-80. Just a few weeks ago, rural Vinton teenager Hayden Rast and his Omaha AAA hockey team members were celebrating theirthe Omaha AAA Hockey Clubafter winning the 14U North American Hockey League Future Prospects Tournament. Now, the Rast family and the rest of his team is mourning the loss of a coach who died in an accident Saturday. The 14-year-old Rastwas among several people severely injured in a three-vehicle crash on I-80 in Cass County that killed three others on Saturday, when the SUV they were riding in collided with a semi that had just crossed the median and crashed into a minivan. Assistant coach Rodney Sanborn, 41,a passenger in the SUV carrying members of the hockey team, was pronounced dead at the scene. Gavin Steckler, age 11, and Jameson Steckler, 14, occupants of the minivan driven by their father, Toby Steckler, of Audobon, also died at the scene. Hayden, the son of Scott and Heather Rast, and and several other occupants of both vehicles sustained multiple injuries. Scheduled for surgery today, Hayden has a concussion and a broken L1 vertebra and other injuries but is alert and moving his arms and feet, said his mom in an Facebook post update. "He is calm, collected, and thinking clearly. The nurses even commented on his politeness," says his mom. Hayden has been playing youth hockey for several years, first in Cedar Rapids, and later with the Omaha team. "We never know what life is going to serve us. Today it delivered a horrific accident," writes Heather. "We're heartbroken over the loss of a good man and friend, the serious injury of other friends, and my own child's condition. Grateful for fantastic medical care and, candidly, that we have a child to rush to. Scott and I are humbled and touched by the enormous outpouring."