A 12-year-old boy was killed Sunday morning when he was ejected from a car on Interstate 35 into the Skunk River south of Ames.

Gary A. Marek, of Temple, Texas, was thrown from the passenger door window when the vehicle he was riding in hit the side of the concrete bridge over the river. Police reports said the driver, Wilton Marek, Jr., 46, fell asleep at the wheel.

The vehicle hit the east guard rail and then crossed both north-bound lanes of Interstate 35 before hitting the other side of the bridge, according to Iowa State Patrol reports.

Marek’s body was discovered by the the Central Iowa Search and Rescue Team 200 yards east of the bridge under a log jam. CPR was attempted, and the body was flown by emergency helicopter to Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa State Patrol reports said.

Jeanette Marek, 42, and Wilton Marek, Jr., sustained minor injuries. Three other children in the vehicle were uninjured.

Officials said Gary was the only person not wearing a seat belt.

The Temple, Texas, family was headed to Minnesota for a vacation.

With Associated Press reports