Family members say the 33-year-old man who died in an Iowa police chase while his son rode along was a veteran who abducted his son last fall out of concern for his safety.

Family members of Jeremiah Johnson said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Johnson's 5-year-old son Johnnathen suffered serious injuries when his dad's vehicle slammed into a parked police cruiser at roughly 130 mph on Friday. The boy's grandfather, Duayne Johnson, says Johnnathen is expected to recover from his physical injuries.

The boy was reported missing in November several months after his mother was awarded custody.

Jeremiah Johnson's family members say he took his son because he believed the boy's mother was dating an ex-convict.