Five people injured in pair of accidents on I-80
Lang
4/26/19
Five people were injured in a pair of accidents on Interstate 80 early Thursday morning.
The first accident happened just before 2:30am on I-80 westbound near mile marker 237.
The Iowa State Patrol says 39-year-old Douglas Walker of Conesville was driving westbound when he missed the Highway 218 exit. Walker attempted a U-turn at a marked utility crossover by crossing over both lanes of traffic. That’s when his Chevy Cobalt was hit broadside by a Mercury Mountaineer being driven by 19-year-old Luke Flickinger of St. Charles, Iowa. Both vehicles came to rest on their tops, blocking westbound travel on I-80 and causing traffic to be detoured between the Tiffin and Oxford exits until about 5:30am.
Walker was transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics via Aircare. Flickinger, 25-year-old Michaela Helton of St. Charles and 51-year-old Michelle Darrow of Atlantic were taken to the UIHC by Johnson County Ambulance. Their conditions have not been released.
About 15 minutes after the initial incident 63-year-old Richard Ross of Colfax was driving westbound when he came upon traffic that had come to a standstill due to the accident. Ross was unable to stop in time, and his semi rear-ended another semi being driven by 55-year-old Tommie Cooper of Coal City, Illinois. Ross was extracted from his vehicle by mechanical means and transported to the UIHC. The extent of his injuries is also unknown.
The accident remains under investigation.