Three people were injured in a wreck involving a semi tractor-trailer and a passenger car in Henry County Thursday.

The incident occurred on Highway 34 near mile marker 231, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Jean Lobanga of Iowa City was driving a 2008 Ford Focus in the slow lane of traffic, at a slow speed with flashers on. Patrick Howard was driving the semi tractor- trailer belonging to Niece Trucking. Howard was approaching the Focus from the rear when he reached down to grab a water bottle. He did not realize that Lobanga was driving at a slow rate of speed and struck the driver-side rear end of the Focus, pushing it into the westbound ditch with the tractor-trailer also going into the ditch. A passenger in the Focus sustained injuries that required him to be life-flighted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Lobanga and another passenger were taken to the Henry County Health Center Emergency Room by ambulance. Howard sustained no injuries and was issued a citation for failure to maintain control.

The Mount Pleasant Police Department, Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Henry County Ambulance, and Breuer’s Towing and Recovery assisted at the scene.