Posted on 02/05/2018 3:45:59 PM PST by markomalley
Officials said a fatal pileup involving dozens of vehicles led to the closure of Interstate 35 near Ames, Iowa, Monday afternoon.
The crash, which was described by authorities as "major," involved as many as 70 vehicles, the Associated Press reported. One person was killed and at least five were critically injured, officials told KCCI.com.
Story County Sheriff’s Department officials told KCCI.com that it was one of the worst pileups they've seen in the area.
Several roads across the state were closed because icy conditions led to crashes, the Des Moines Register said. All roads in central Iowa were snow-covered, and officials urged drivers to be extra cautious while driving on Monday, according to WHO-TV.
"It's a mess. They're trying to get everyone to slow down," Ludwig told the Register.
Ames is located about 35 miles north of Des Moines.
ex Iowan. Iowa winters are tough. Minnesota tough. Lived in DSM 20 years and raised in Ottumwa
Semi-retired in Kansas. Not much farther south but winters seem much milder. One big snow in 9 years. Typically snows and melts in a couple days.
Two sons in DSM. One is desperate to flee south. Says five years in Iowa winters is cruel and more than a man should have to endure. Probably so.
My daughter and her family live in Des Moines. She said she took her kids to see a movie last week, came back out to her car in less than a couple hours and it was covered in six inches of snow. Her kids were giggling, she wasn't.
Last week? Des Moines hasn’t had a three-inch snowfall in two or threes years until today starting around 9-10 am.
Been there, done that.
Nothing like that feeling when you realize you are now just along for the ride.
Asked the wife who told me a few days ago after talking to daughter. More like a few weeks ago. I thought it was current, stand corrected. Kids laughed as she cleared the snow.
2 years from yesterday is a possible IA caucus date. Imagine all the political operatives, voters, etc. negotiating that kind of weather.
I understand what you are saying and 4WD probably does encourage a higher false sense of control in icy conditions, but I have seen cars that obviously are not 4WD speeding past me on icy roads. I’m always amazed that I don’t see them crash a few minutes later.
A 4wd vehicle goes great in poor traction conditions which does engender overconfidence. Problem is, they don’t stop or turn any better than anything else, and are almost invariably the vehicles seen run off the road into medians and ditches during ice or snowstorms.
If your coffee isn't waking you up that will!
Some of us can read the road better than others.
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