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Eastern Iowa trooper dies in La Crosse after fatal crash
An Iowa state trooper has died at a La Crosse hospital, nearly a week after being hurt in a crash while driving to help another police agency.
Trooper Ted Benda from the Decorah area was hurt Oct. 14 in an accident north of Postville, Iowa, and was airlifted to Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, where he died Wednesday.
Benda was on his way to assist Clayton County officers with a wanted suspect, when his car went into a ditch.
The 37-year-old Benda joined the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in 2005, working with a bureau in Marquette. He joined the Iowa State Patrol five years ago and was stationed in Oelwein.
Benda is survived by his wife Holly and their four children. He was a graduate of Waukon High School.