Indianola, IOWA --- Iowa State Trooper Mark Toney died early this evening as a result of a single vehicle car crash near Indianola, Iowa.

Today, September 20, 2011, 43 year old Trooper Mark Toney was traveling northbound on US Highway 65, just south of Indianola. Witnesses indicate his emergency lights were activated. For unknown reasons the patrol car left the roadway and then landed in a field west of the highway.  Witnesses to the incident called 911 shortly before 4:40 PM.

Upon arrival at the scene, emergency responders found the patrol car fully engulfed in flames.  The fire was extinguished, and Trooper Toney was pronounced dead at the scene.  An autopsy will be conducted at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny tomorrow.

Trooper Toney served the citizens in western and central Iowa for 24 years as a member of the Iowa State Patrol.