By Associated Press - Friday, April 1, 2016

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - More than 2,000 family, friends and public safety officers gathered at a West Des Moines church to honor one of two Des Moines police officers killed in a head-on crash.

The Des Moines Register (https://dmreg.co/1UZ9lpS ) reports it has been a difficult time for the family of Carlos Puente-Morales, who died with officer Susan Farrell Saturday in a crash with a wrong-way driver.

During the Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Bishop Richard Pates acknowledged the family’s great loss in the past 16 months. Puente-Morales’ brother died in a November 2014 traffic accident and their father died months later.

Puente-Morales had worked as an officer in Ottumwa before moving to Des Moines police.

A prisoner being transported by the officers and the other driver were also killed.

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Information from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com

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