The man who died in a West Des Moines freeway crash Wednesday along with his 6-year-old son was barred from contacting his wife earlier this year and had limited visitation with his two children, according to court records.

Jacob Griffiths, 36, of Adel and his son Wyatt Griffiths, 6, died in the collision beneath the 50th Street overpass of Interstate Highway 235, police said Thursday. Griffiths' 3-year-old daughter Natalee, who also was in the vehicle, was listed in critical condition at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines, officials said.

Griffiths was driving the children east at about 8 p.m. when his pickup truck went off I-235 and into a concrete bridge support. Passers-by stopped their vehicles and pulled the two children from the vehicle, authorities said.

His wife, Christina Griffiths, sought the protective order in a court filing Aug. 19. She wrote that Jacob Griffiths had threatened her and damaged parts of their Adel house the night before and that he had previously screamed at her, punched objects and threatened to kill himself and police officers.

In seeking custody of their young children, Christina Griffiths wrote: "He is a very good dad. However, right now I am concerned about his mental state." A judge granted a temporary protective order.

The court file also includes a text message apparently sent by Christina Griffiths to her husband on Aug. 20 in which she proposed separating. She said that, in time, her husband could choose to file for divorce or that "if in a few weeks or months you realize you love me and would like to work on our life, I am open to counseling with you to get our marriage back on track."

Jacob Griffiths wrote to the judge in the case saying that he loved his wife and children and was desperate to repair his marriage and stay involved in his children's lives. He disputed that he had threatened his wife or police.

In late September, the temporary protective order was replaced by a new agreement. It barred Jacob Griffiths from contacting his wife or threatening her; he was granted temporary custody of the children every Wednesday evening and on alternating weekends, with the children being picked up and dropped off at the Waukee Police Department.

Reporters' phone messages to Christina Griffiths and to relatives of the Griffithses were not returned Thursday. Nobody answered the door at the Griffiths residence in Adel or at Jacob Griffiths' parents' home.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the crash. Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said Thursday that troopers don't know yet why the truck left the freeway.