Monday was a deadly day on Iowa’s roads as 8 lose lives

DES MOINES – Snow and ice helped contribute to a deadly Monday on Iowa’s roads as 8 people lost their lives.

The Iowa State Patrol reported that there were at least 185 crashes Monday, February 5 in Iowa.

A deadly crash occurred north of Decorah. Two teens died and four others were hurt. An Iowa State Patrol trooper tweeted “A family is without two of their children tonight.”

The same trooper also said “two of our State Patrol colleagues were struck in today’s winter storm. Thankfully they are ok.”

In Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids, police reported that they “have responded to 44 accidents between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in Cedar Rapids.  22 of the accidents have occurred on the interstate highway system.” They also say that at 11:22 AM that morning, officers responded to U.S. Interstate 380 northbound just past the U.S. Highway 30 exit and found a single vehicle accident involving a 2007 Mercury Montego that had apparently left the roadway and struck a pillar support of a bridge overpass. There were 3 adult male occupants in the vehicle. Two of the occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

In Story county, authorities there reported “a massive crash on I-35 has greatly impacted travel.”  Dozens of vehicles were reportedly piled up near Ames, and traffic was diverted through that city.  At least one person was killed in the pileup.

In Cedar county, a two-car crash was reported on Interstate 80 on Monday afternoon.  A driver involved in the crash got out of the vehicle to check damage when a third vehicle struck the cars involved in the initial crash.  The person was killed when one of the damaged vehicles struck them.

Later Tuesday, the Iowa State Patrol said “our state experienced 8 traffic deaths related to weather conditions. Several Iowa State Patrol and emergency vehicles were hit while emergency responders were trying to help motorists on the roads.”