The Iowa State Patrol is actively responding to an ice storm across Iowa, handling 151 service calls, including 52 crashes with eight injuries and 44 property damage incidents, between Friday afternoon and Saturday noon. They have also assisted 99 motorists, while Cedar Rapids Police reported only one storm-related vehicle incident by Saturday morning.
The Iowa State Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle crash that blocked I-80 just west of Des Moines, urging people to stay home due to dangerous wintry road conditions, and emphasizing the need to avoid putting themselves and others at risk. No injuries were reported, and the roadway has since reopened.
The Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State Patrol are implementing "Safety Corridors" along Iowa's deadliest highways in an effort to reduce the number of fatal crashes, which are currently 13 percent higher than average. The Safety Corridors will feature larger road markings and signs to increase driver awareness and encourage safe driving practices. Law enforcement will be actively patrolling these areas to enforce traffic laws and ensure compliance. The Safety Corridors are located on various highways across the state.
The Iowa State Patrol investigated a social media threat to the Iowa Capitol on Saturday, prompted by information received from the United States Capitol Police. After determining the threat was not credible, the State Fire Marshal's Office and Iowa State Patrol conducted a sweep of the building and found nothing of concern. Normal activities resumed, but an Iowa Democratic Party Black Caucus event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. was moved to a different location as a precaution.
A pedestrian was killed after being struck by three vehicles on Interstate 80 near Second Avenue in Des Moines. The man ran into eastbound traffic and was hit by the first vehicle, then thrown into the westbound lanes where he was hit by two more vehicles. The accident is under investigation.
An Iowa motorcyclist, Daniel Brown, was killed in a crash on Highway 20 in Fort Dodge. Brown was driving east when he collided with a box truck that failed to yield. The driver of the truck was uninjured. This year, 250 people have died on Iowa roads, with 45 fatalities in motorcycle crashes.
Two people were killed in Marshall County, Iowa, when an SUV ran out of gas on Highway 330 and they were struck by oncoming traffic while trying to push the vehicle off the road. The SUV came to a rest in a ditch, while the car that hit them stopped on the shoulder. The driver of the SUV and the individuals who stopped to help were not identified. Two others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals.
A 6-year-old child in Guthrie County, Iowa, has tragically passed away after being hit by a car while entering a blind spot on the right rear side of the vehicle. Despite the driver's efforts to save the child, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the incident.
A single-vehicle accident in Creston, Union County, Iowa, resulted in one fatality and one person sustaining life-threatening injuries. The accident occurred when a Ford Mustang lost control at a high speed, struck a parked car, and collided with two houses before flipping over. The passenger from Creston died from his injuries, while the driver was airlifted to a hospital in Des Moines. The investigation is ongoing, and the names of the individuals involved have not been released.
Madalynn Stewart, a 19-year-old from Maloy, has become the third fatality in a two-vehicle accident that occurred in Union County, Iowa, on July 21st. Stewart's car failed to stop at an intersection and collided with a pickup truck driven by Andy Merritt. Two other passengers in Stewart's vehicle were also killed, while another was hospitalized. Funeral services for Stewart will be held next Monday.
A suspect involved in a domestic incident in Des Moines County, Iowa, is dead after a police chase involving the Iowa State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. The suspect, identified as Joshua Paul Thompson, was spotted in western Des Moines County and appears to have shot and killed himself as authorities closed in. Thompson had kidnapped a woman, who is now safe.
One person died and three others were injured in a single-vehicle crash in Marion County, Iowa. The SUV lost control, went off the road, and collided with a tree. The deceased passenger was identified as Whitney Marie Brown, 34, who was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash is currently under investigation. This incident adds to the rising number of fatalities on Iowa roadways this year.
Two people were killed in a head-on crash in Floyd County, Iowa, when a car crossed the center line on Highway 18 and collided with another car. The victims were identified as Steven York, 74, and Keira Duffy, 16, both from Minnesota. Two others were injured and taken to the hospital.
A death investigation is underway in Jefferson after a body was found on the east side of the city. Law enforcement, including the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Patrol, are actively investigating the scene. No further details have been released at this time.
Iowa City Police are investigating a fatal crash that occurred at the intersection of Court St. and Seventh Ave. on Saturday night, resulting in one death and two minor injuries. The Iowa State Patrol is leading the investigation.