SIDNEY - The Cheyenne County Sheriff's office identified an Iowa man involved in a fatality accident on Interstate 80 east of Sidney Wednesday afternoon.

The sheriff's office says John Donald Jessen, 69, of Des Moines, was killed when the vehicle he was riding in came to a stop on the interstate and was later struck by a semi-tractor and trailer at approximately 3:55 p.m.

According to the accident report, a Honda Pilot, driven by Martha Mae Jessen of Des Moines, was westbound when she stopped in the right lane. An oncoming westbound semi-tractor-trailer, driven by Ruslan Zaliskyi, of Salt Lake City, UT, slowed and swerved into the left lane to avoid a collision. 

Jessen put the Pilot in reverse and moved into the left lane in an attempt to exit to a rest area at mile marker 61. The semi-tractor hit the SUV on the passenger side before both vehicles came to a rest in the median. 

An autopsy into Jessen's death has been ordered.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation reduced both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 80 to one lane. They reported the interstate was partially covered in ice and told drivers to "expect blowing snow" at the time of the accident. 

The Cheyenne County Sheriff's office is investigating the crash.

The Nebraska State Patrol, Sidney Volunteer Fire Department and Regional West Medical Center Ambulance responded to the scene.