MAY 9, 2015
I-80, EASTERN IOWA
Multiple fiery crashes injured more than 30 people on
Interstate Highway 80 in eastern Iowa on Friday, authorities said.
One incident involved six vehicles, and one person was
airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, State Patrol Sgt. Nathan
Ludwig said.
Yet, no one was killed.
"Call it a miracle," Ludwig said.
Emergency personnel were called to the first crash near
Williamsburg at about 3 p.m. Friday. Additional accidents occurred as traffic
backed up along the interstate.
Dennis Holcomb, 53, a semitrailer truck driver from Sumner,
S.C., watched one accident unfold in his rearview mirror and rushed to help
pull an unconscious semi driver from his burning vehicle.
Holcomb said vehicles were backed up along I-80 westbound
because of another accident when a semi rear-ended the stalled vehicles,
setting off a chain reaction.
"This guy didn't hit his brakes. I don't know what he
was thinking," Holcomb said.
The semi that failed to stop burst into flames. Holcomb and
other motorists located the unconscious driver, who had been tossed to the
bottom of the cab, and pulled him out through an overhead window.
"We were fighting the fire and getting him out at the
same time. I was just doing the Lord's work," Holcomb said.
He said the driver regained consciousness as they pulled him
out.
Diesel fuel from the semi spread across the interstate,
igniting other vehicles, including a tour bus. The occupants had exited all the
vehicles before the fire started.
Two passenger vehicles, two semis, and a bus were destroyed
by fire, Iowa County Sheriff Robert Rotter said.
Approximately 12 people were transported to UI Hospitals and
Clinics. Eight were taken to Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, and 12 were treated
and released from Marengo Memorial Hospital in Marengo.
Kenneth Rempher, chief nurse at UI Hospitals and Clinics,
said as of 8 p.m. two people were in critical care, three were in intermediate
care and two were in general acute care. Five people were still being
evaluated.
"I have seen accidents this large, but this one had a
higher number of injuries than I've seen before," Rotter said.
Both Rotter and Ludwig advised motorists to stay alert and
focused on driving when they come upon an accident.
"If people were paying attention, slowing down and
looking ahead, it could have possibly been avoided, but I'm not sure,"
Ludwig said.
I-80 in both directions was at a standstill after the
accidents, and a portion of the interstate was closed until about 7 p.m. as
emergency crews responded to the crashes.
Many people seem to be in a hurry to deliver their loads and
they get into these traffic accidents.
Now they pay for it with their injuries, lost wages, property damage,
and so on.
If you have to go, take it slow. Unfortunately, in deaf man’s door we can
knock as many times as we want: they
will not listen. Too bad.
Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com