COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Authorities have released new details about a tragic incident in Council Bluffs that claimed the life of a pedestrian Thursday evening. According to the Council Bluffs Police Department, officers responded around 5:45 p.m. to reports of a collision near the intersection of 8th Street and Kanesville Boulevard involving a 2009 Kia Sportage and a pedestrian.
Investigators say the vehicle, driven by 72-year-old Dennis Stark of Council Bluffs, was traveling east on Kanesville Boulevard as the traffic light turned yellow. At the same time, 47-year-old Heidi Divis of Omaha was attempting to cross the intersection heading north. Preliminary findings suggest Divis entered the crosswalk while the pedestrian signal indicated it was not safe to cross. She was struck during the sequence of events.
Emergency personnel arrived quickly and provided medical assistance before transporting Divis to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Authorities said the driver remained at the scene and fully cooperated with police. Officers observed possible signs of impairment and obtained a search warrant to collect a blood sample from Stark for testing. Results from that analysis are still pending.
The Council Bluffs Police Department confirmed that the crash remains under investigation, with officials reviewing traffic light timing, road conditions, and other potential contributing factors, including impairment or distraction. The department’s traffic unit and accident reconstruction specialists are working to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the collision and whether criminal charges may be warranted.
Police noted that the section of Kanesville Boulevard where the crash occurred is a busy thoroughfare, particularly during evening hours when visibility can be reduced. They urged both drivers and pedestrians to exercise extra caution at intersections and to obey all traffic signals to prevent future tragedies.
In a public statement, the Council Bluffs Police expressed condolences to Heidi Divis’s family and loved ones, calling the incident “devastating for everyone involved.” Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash camera footage from the area to contact the department’s traffic unit. Authorities say updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
