Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Watch Traffic Camera Footage of Fatal I-35 Pileup
Iowa DOT ^ | 2-6-18 | WHO-TV

Posted on 02/07/2018 6:21:14 AM PST by Pappy Smear

Here is the video--6 minutes long of a 50-70 car pileup on I-35 near Ames, Iowa. First minute is a little slow. At about 4:30 in, it starts getting "wow".


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: highways; i35; interstates; iowa; ntsb; pileup; roads
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last
To: KC Burke
I'm in S.E. Michigan.....On Christmas eve we get a bad snow storm and I had to go to my niece's house, about 25 miles away. M'59 has 4 lanes eastbound and 4 lanes westbound. Plows weren't out yet so M-59 was all snow covered. My traffic was doing about 25 MPH. After a quarter mile down 59, the eastbound side had a half dozen spin outs with numerous police cars on site. Traffic was at a total stand still and backed up as far as you could see.

I got about 3 miles down the highway when I called it quits and got off the freeway and headed home via surface streets........

Having spent a lifetime of winters here in Michigan, I'm smart enough to know when to drive 25 or stay off the roads.......

21 posted on 02/07/2018 7:03:15 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (My cat is not fat, she is just big boned........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: RegulatorCountry

I concur with your earlier post about it is likely safer to remain buckled-in with the inherent safety of the car providing protection. If somehow outside the vehicle for whatever reason it would likely be best to continue walking/running forward to get the maximum number of vehicles behind you. Certainly a frightening predicament.

22 posted on 02/07/2018 7:05:30 AM PST by Blue Jays ( Rock hard ~ Ride free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: RegulatorCountry
Generally you are pretty well protected in a car, airbags, crush zones, padded seats and dash, seat belts...

It's always a judgement call.

And I agree, if the judgement is to leave the vehicle, get the heck off the roadway and well to the side.

23 posted on 02/07/2018 7:06:16 AM PST by null and void (What do the democrats stand for?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Pappy Smear

I was in the 117 car pile up on 1-95 South in VA and this brings back some scary memories. The truck drivers simply drive way too fast.


24 posted on 02/07/2018 7:08:46 AM PST by DarthVader ("The biggeest misconception on Free Republic is that the Deep State is invulnerable")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Pappy Smear

http://mentalfloss.com/article/26053/6-worst-car-accidents-recent-us-history


25 posted on 02/07/2018 7:09:06 AM PST by DarthVader ("The biggeest misconception on Free Republic is that the Deep State is invulnerable")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC Burke

...but we can still do 75 in the clear lane, right?


26 posted on 02/07/2018 7:09:56 AM PST by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: null and void

“Be one of the ones getting away from the stopped cars and way off to the side.”

Yes, great lesson. And stay in your car. Your car may still get crushed by a semi, but there’s a better chance you’ll get squashed by a car if you get out.

The people driving off to the side were smart. If my family were with me I would have driven through that fence and well into the field.


27 posted on 02/07/2018 7:13:31 AM PST by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: OneBob

I spoke with a trucker at Rural King two days ago. He said ‘Sadly, truckers are using their hand held phones and spending hours talking but not listening. No more CBs for information. They all have GPS.”

Franking, I think truckers should be mandated to keep their CBs on the CH 17 or 19 at all times. They are our first line of defense in situations just like the one we just watched. I think 4wheelers learn how simple it is to use a CB. Pile ups like this might not happen.

Though I drive a 4-wheeler I have driven coast to coast probably 12-15 times alone or with kids. I cannot even begin to express my appreciation for the truckers who talked with me...directions, places to eat, good places to rest and sleep, safe places to take kids. I would give them accolades until I was hoarse. I never met a bad one though I know there are those out there.

I forgot to add: occasionally I would see a driver weaving from side to side. I would get on my CB, call him by truck name or whatever I had and tell him he should get some sleep as he was “weaving”. Every single one thanked me and if they saw me at a truck stop further up the road they’d buy my lunch or dinner. Hey, you can’t survive out there on these super fast freeways without all kinds of eyes watching out for you.


28 posted on 02/07/2018 7:14:05 AM PST by Bodega (we are developing less and less common sense...world wide)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: GnuThere
I can’t believe how fast some of them were going in those conditions. Wowsa.

That's an understatement. The amount of stupid in that video is off the charts. You would think people in Iowa would know how to drive in a snowstorm.

29 posted on 02/07/2018 7:17:53 AM PST by BureaucratusMaximus (NOT tired of winning.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: gathersnomoss

Saw it. I grew up in what used to be the sticks west of Philly. We always had big American cars—Chryslers, Pontiacs, Cadillacs, and a Farm Truck. ‘58 Dodge 3/4 ton that I learned to drive at 11. The snow tires went on two of the cars after Thanksgiving. In 1961, my father bought a new International Scout with 4WD and a Meyers blade. But nothing was good on ice until we discovered studded snow tires. Later on I had a ‘66 GTO convertible that we put studded snow tires on. It was an absolute blast to drive on snow and ice. It had a Powerglide two speed auto so I just left it in low gear which was good for around 85 fully wound out.


30 posted on 02/07/2018 7:18:41 AM PST by VietVet876
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: VietVet876

I had a family car, 1965 4 door Impala with a 283 and the same tranny. Studded retread tires south of the Burg were a blast as I could push through snow during massive storms with ease.


31 posted on 02/07/2018 7:27:54 AM PST by gathersnomoss
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

The tour bus that went left just squeaked it. Bad driving, buses go too fast a LOT.


32 posted on 02/07/2018 7:32:28 AM PST by polymuser (Its terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged today. - Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: RegulatorCountry

Right! But if you do have to get out due to fire or other possible calamity, get FAR away from the road.

Note the trucks cleaning out the sidelines!

A very young girl was killed in Cincinnati a couple of years ago in a similar pileup. She and her babysitter got out and sat on a cable guardrail. A following crasher hit a wooden post holding the cable. The cable snapped and sprung into the girl like a rubber band.

She sustained fatal head injuries.

Stay in the car if you can. If you can’t, get far away!!!


33 posted on 02/07/2018 7:38:42 AM PST by Bartholomew Roberts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Pappy Smear

Whoa. There were some lucky people, and some not-so-lucky people...and some real idiots.


34 posted on 02/07/2018 8:05:27 AM PST by moovova
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hot Tabasco

I spent about ten days at Christmas up in your area going between two kids south of Grand Rapids. Three storms but every third hour another lake-effect band — wow.

Sure glad I retired in the Phoenix vallery.


35 posted on 02/07/2018 8:06:12 AM PST by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Delta 21

It is truly amazing how many suburbanites drive these SUV crossovers and think that somehow helps their stopping ability.

Tire, tires, tires and technique are the only things that really matter when it comes to stopping if you are going too fast. Despite many years of four wheel drive ladder frame vehicles, I do all my winter driving right now in a two wheel drive high clearance vehicle. Is is, however, shod with KO2 tires which are Mountain Alpine rated and make all the difference in the world.


36 posted on 02/07/2018 8:11:31 AM PST by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: KC Burke
lake-effect band

Yep, the west side of the state is bad news. Even worse up around the Gaylord area.....

37 posted on 02/07/2018 8:15:58 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (My cat is not fat, she is just big boned........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Blue Jays

“...it would likely be best to continue walking/running forward to get the maximum number of vehicles behind you.”

My first instinct would be to quickly exit the vehicle and run off the road, outer curbside, and keep going just in case a semi came barreling thru.

But your idea of walking/running forward is excellent. I never considered that. Just hope I remember that if I’m ever in that kind of mess


38 posted on 02/07/2018 8:17:29 AM PST by moovova
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: KC Burke
Many, many years ago, we had just gotten a heavy snow fall. I was on W bound I-96 and it was virtually traffic free. The 3 lanes were covered with about 4 or 5 inches of snow and the only evidence of traffic were the tire tracks I was following in the right lane.

I was doing maybe 20 MPH when some dumb chick came up behind me and started tailgating me, evidently she thought she would speed me up. She finally gave up and decided she was going to pass me. I'm watching her in my rear view mirror as she attempted to pull into the lane on the left. No sooner did she make her move when she did a complete 360 spin and ended going up the steep embankment on our right.........

That was the funniest sight that I will never forget..........

39 posted on 02/07/2018 8:29:08 AM PST by Hot Tabasco (My cat is not fat, she is just big boned........)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: moovova

"...exit the vehicle..."


It is a tough judgement call, for sure.

I guess the other factor we would need to consider is how slippery the surface might be outside.
If it is just a light amount of snow and one can rapidly reach a grassy area where one can jog...it might make sense to take the risk.
If in a crashed vehicle in the “center lane” it might be jumping out of the frying pan and directly into the fire in terms of danger.

If traveling alone, it might be worth it to exit the vehicle, and continually “adjust the survival plan” as things unfold. A vehicle full of passengers adds complexity as it impacts how the vehicle can be moved.
Some of the people that drove down the embankment to that dirt utility road were thinking outside the box, for sure!


40 posted on 02/07/2018 8:43:45 AM PST by Blue Jays ( Rock hard ~ Ride free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson